RI Plans Moving Toward Shared Residential Living Model

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — In an effort to close a projected $6-million shortfall, the state Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals plans to move up to 300 adults with developmental disabilities from group homes into shared residential living arrangements by the end of March.

Maria Montanaro, the agency's director, said it's a model the state should be moving toward regardless of whether there is a budget crisis. Still, she acknowledged that moving that many people that quickly is aggressive and might not be achievable. There are currently 3,800 individuals with developmental disabilities receiving state care. Roughly 1,300 of those individuals are in group homes.