ARPA Funds Needed

ABCD Asks Governor Murphy and Members of the Joint Budget Oversight Committee to
Release Funds for Day and Residential Services

Like most businesses in the care economy, IDD residential and day programs are suffering from
staffing shortages. Though New Jersey’s economy is at 91% of its pre-pandemic level1 day
programs which service individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities are
currently operating at only 60.61% of their pre-pandemic levels. 2 This has meant that instead
of attending day program many individuals remain either in their group homes requiring
agencies for the sixth month in a row to provide a service that they are not paid for and doing
so at overtime rates, or in their own home requiring additional supports from family and other
informal supports.

To the extent funds are available and applicable, we ask Governor Murphy and Members of the
Joint Budget Oversight Committee’s consideration in making available one-time ARPA funds to
be used by day and residential agencies to provide incentives for staff recruitment and
retention, help pay overtime costs and make residential agencies whole.