FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 20, 2024

Contact: [email protected]

AUSTIN, TX – Time To Care: Save Texas Caregivers Now is proud to announce that Longview-based Harmony Living Centers has joined the coalition, further strengthening the statewide movement urging the Texas Legislature to support community-based services for Texans with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

For decades, direct support professionals (DSPs) who serve Texans with IDD have been chronically underfunded, with an hourly reimbursement rate set by the Texas Legislature of just $10.60. At a time when inflation is soaring and the cost of living continues to rise, the compassionate men and women who care for vulnerable Texans are struggling to make ends meet. As a result, community-based service providers are facing unsustainable staff vacancy rates and closures, undermining their ability to provide quality care for the most vulnerable Texans.

“We are so thankful for the work the Time to Care coalition is doing to shed light on the struggle direct support professionals are facing in Texas,” said Harmony Living Centers President & CEO Clayton Pecot. “Direct support professionals are the lifeline that the most vulnerable Texans depend on for living their best life. We are pleased to join the coalition and continue to work to make Texas the leader in supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.”

Since March 2024, the coalition has urged state leaders to authorize an emergency appropriations request through the Legislative Budget Board (LBB) to raise the salary for DSPs from $10.60 to at least $15 an hour. While emergency funding can help address the immediate workforce crisis facing DSPs, there is more work to be done to ensure Texans with IDD are not left behind.

Coalition spokesperson Carole Smith welcomed Harmony Living Centers to the Time To Care coalition: “We are extremely grateful that Harmony Living Centers has joined our ever-growing coalition and strengthened our collective voice in calling on Texas leaders to support critical IDD services in communities across Texas. IDD service providers like Harmony Living Centers understand the challenges that persistent underfunding has created, and we are hopeful that lawmakers understand the urgent need to fund IDD services and those that care for our most vulnerable at appropriate levels to ensure continuity of quality care for the Texans who need it most.”

Harmony Living Centers, Inc. was founded in 1990 as a private provider of residential and habilitation services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Harmony Living Centers has been recognized by the State of Texas as a leader in providing quality programming, which is consistently awarded the highest rating by the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC). Harmony Living Centers operates thirteen six-bed homes serving Texans with IDD across Northeast Texas.​ To learn more, visit https://www.harmonyliving.com/

Time To Care: Save Texas Caregivers Now is a coalition dedicated to securing competitive wages for Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) who provide essential care to Texans with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD). Through collaboration and grassroots efforts, the coalition strives to enact meaningful change at both the legislative and community levels. Learn more about how to get involved at https://timetocaretx.org/

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