Group homes Coverage

'The fight is always tiring': Lawmakers, watchdog tussle over how to serve disabled people

Lawsuits from watchdog Disability Rights NC could force the state to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to help people with disabilities live at home. The push threatens existing group homes and workshops that employ people with disabilities -- arrangements some families are happy with.

Travis Fain, WRAL state government reporter

Taxpayers paid millions for migrant kids' shelters that never opened, investigation finds

A bipartisan U.S. Senate committee this week concluded that the federal government's failed oversight of a program to shelter unaccompanied migrant children cost taxpayers $32 million for several planned facilities that will never open, including one in North Carolina.

Tyler Dukes, News & Observer reporter

After losing federal grant to house migrant children, NC group home sues state health regulators

The North Carolina group home company that lost a multi-million-dollar federal grant to house migrant children after it failed to secure proper licensing is suing the state health department in federal court, accusing the agency of "outrageous violations" of the company's rights that ultimately led to millions of dollars in monetary losses.

Tyler Dukes, WRAL investigative reporter

Unlicensed company awarded grant to house migrant children must repay $3M, feds say

Federal officials are demanding a North Carolina group home repay more than $3 million in taxpayer money originally awarded to the company last year to house migrant children separated from their families.

Tyler Dukes, WRAL investigative reporter

Lawmakers demand answers over troubled company's $4M grant to house migrant kids

Democratic U.S. House members want to know how an unlicensed North Carolina group home operator won a multi-million federal grant to house migrant children, barely a year after one of the company's facilities was shut down over abuse and neglect allegations.

Tyler Dukes, WRAL investigative reporter

Judge upholds state's decision to remove children from problematic Robeson group home

A judge has upheld a decision by state regulators to abruptly shut down a residential mental health facility for children last year amid allegations of abuse and neglect, saying staff at the group home "failed miserably" to treat and care for the boys in their custody.

Tyler Dukes, WRAL investigative reporter

Questions mount over grant to bring migrant children to unlicensed NC group home

WRAL Investigates examined the details of a federal grant to house migrant children in North Carolina, awarded to an unlicensed, little-known group home with a history of abuse and neglect allegations.

Group home denies wrongdoing for teen's burns but proposes changes

The state is fining an assisted living home for people with autism that was the focus of a WRAL News investigation after a teenage resident suffered severe burns.

State fining group home where teen was burned

The state is fining an assisted living home for people with autism that was the focus of a WRAL News investigation after a teenage resident suffered severe burns.

Cullen Browder, WRAL anchor/reporter

Group home denies wrongdoing after teen with autism burned

A Raleigh teen suffered first- and second-degree burns that his mother claims happened at a group home for people with autism.

How did teen with autism get burned? Lawsuit against group home may shed light on his injuries

A Raleigh teen suffered first- and second-degree burns that his mother claims happened at a group home for people with autism.

Cullen Browder, WRAL anchor/reporter

Warning signs for group homes emerge amid budget stalemate

Easter Seals this month warned the state that eight of its group homes would need to changed managers or close. The homes for mentally ill and developmentally disabled adults provide housing, treatment, and a link to jobs. But funding for the four-to-six person community alternatives is an unstable patchwork that has faced challenges for the past four years.

Mark Binker

McCrory vetoes 'ag-gag' bill

Gov. Pat McCrory said a bill meant to restrict "bad actors" could prevent honest workers from coming forward to point out problems.

Mark Binker

Governor signs 'Burt's Law'

Gov. Pat McCrory on Tuesday signed a law increasing penalties for abusing residents of group homes or for failing to report abuse.

Laura Leslie

Group home residents face funding troubles again

Hundreds of adults with long-term disabilities such as autism, traumatic brain injuries or Down's syndrome could lose their spots in group homes that help them lead independent lives if the state does not quickly tamp down the recurrence of an issue first encountered more than two years ago.

Mark Binker

Budget deal trims spending on social programs, boosts teacher pay

The budget state lawmakers will vote on this week boosts teacher salaries but trims eligibility for several key public aid programs, such as child care subsidies.

Mark Binker and Laura Leslie

Group home funding slow to emerge

Lawmakers set aside $4.6 million to help residents stay in group homes for mentally ill people, but that money has not yet been released to providers three months after the budget was passed.

Mark Binker

State money to help group homes deal with Medicaid changes

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services said Wednesday that group homes can now apply for $4.6 million earmarked in the state budget to help them deal with changes in Medicaid eligibility.

Matthew Burns

Budget deal resolves session's biggest political stories

The state budget brings clarity to long-fought battles over how teachers will be paid, how the Commerce Department will be organized, funding for rural development and other stories.

Mark Binker

Group home residents facing possible crisis again

Lawmakers created a temporary patch for mentally ill and developmentally disabled people who were going to lose their placements in group homes earlier this year. That money is about to run out and there is no permanent fix in the state Senate Budget.

Mark Binker

McCrory signs bills on Medicaid expansion, group home funding, and possums

Gov. Pat McCrory signed four high-profile bills Wednesday afternoon in private. One of the measures would block expansion of the state's Medicaid system.

Mark Binker

Group home fix passes General Assembly

A bill that provides temporary funding to residents of mental health group homes and Alzheimer's special care units passed the House.

Laura Leslie

Senate approves funding for NC group homes

The state Senate voted unanimously Thursday for a plan to allow patients with mental illness who live in group homes to stay there for the time being.

Matthew Burns and Laura Leslie

Tillis urges Senate to move on group home fix

House Speaker Thom Tillis is urging the Senate Leader Phil Berger to move quickly on a bill fixing a funding problem for group homes.

Laura Leslie

Senate pushing bill to block Medicaid expansion quickly

The Senate Insurance Committee has approved a bill that would keep North Carolina from expanding Medicaid or participating in health care exchanges under the federal Affordable Care Act. The full Senate plans to vote on the bill Monday night.

Mark Binker