LANSING – Programs that help tens of thousands of residents with disabilities become employed and live independently will be able to expand and Michigan taxpayers will save millions of dollars thanks to new state investment secured by State Representative Richard E. Hammel (D-Mt. Morris Township), the Disability Network/Michigan said today.
"On behalf of Michigan's 1.9 million citizens with disabilities, we are extremely thankful to Representative Hammel for his strong leadership in providing a $500,000 increase for Michigan's 15 Centers for Independent Living," said Mike Zelley, executive director of the Disability Network in Flint. "The Centers will provide increased services to residents with disabilities by helping them get jobs, transition from nursing homes to their own homes and live independently."
The Department of Labor and Economic Growth budget that Governor Jennifer M. Granholm signed into law last week includes a $500,000 increase for the state's 15 Centers for Independent Living, which provide job placement and support services to people with disabilities. The centers served about 40,000 Michigan residents last year. This funding increase, the first substantial one in seven years, will help expand these highly successful job-training programs in areas that are currently unserved or underserved.
As Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Economic Development, Hammel worked hard to ensure that the budget plan included the new funding.
"Increasing the state's investment in Centers for Independent Living isn't just the right thing to do – it's also a smart thing to do financially," Hammel said. "For every dollar in state funds spent on Centers for Independent Living, taxpayers save about $11. By enabling people with disabilities to become self-sufficient rather than relying on state housing or financial assistance, we're saving money while promoting the right of every Michigan resident to live with dignity."