BRENHAM STATE SUPPORTED LIVING CENTER MAY RECEIVE NEW RESIDENTS FROM PROPOSED AUSTIN CENTER CLOSING

  

The Brenham State Supported Living Center may, if an Austin advisory commission has its way, receive some residents from an Austin State Supported Living Center at its facility here in Brenham.

On Sunday afternoon, protesters rallied at the Austin State Supported Living Center in Austin to spread awareness of proposed closure of that facility and others, which services 214 people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the Austin area.

The protesters are concerned about moving residents from the center, as some have been there all their life, and feel it would affect them physically and emotionally, and were also concerned about the family’s ability to have easy access to their loved ones in far-off facilities.

The Sunset Advisory Commission in February recommended that the Austin location be closed, and will restructure the remaining twelve locations.

Residents would be referred to group homes or other existing facilities such as the Brenham State Supported Living Center.

In 2013, the state spent $661.9 million to support all the state supported living centers, according to the Sunset Advisory Commission, and the U.S. Department of Justice has been overseeing the centers because of safety and quality concerns.

The cost to care for a person at these centers in about $113,000 more in the center, than if living in comparable situation in the community, according to the commission in its recommendations.