In a move set to address the pressing need for specialized residential care in Raleigh, a local organization dedicated to supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities has just taken a significant stride. According to WUNC, the organization under spotlight, TLC, celebrated the unveiling of a new $5.2 million residential facility aimed to enhance the lives of those with conditions such as autism and Down syndrome.
The investment, which includes upgrades to two other existing facilities, brings the total project cost to $9.8 million. Sarah Crawford, CEO of the organization, emphasized to WUNC the severity of the situation, noting that more than 18,000 people are on an Innovation Waiver waitlist—a federal registry for those in need of long-term care services. She pointed out the expected 38% rise over the next 15 years, in Wake County's population of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The expansion is considered one of the largest of its kind in North Carolina for this community.
Meanwhile, TLC, which was formerly known as the Tammy Lynn Center, has expanded their housing capabilities, reports CBS17. They currently have 100 individuals on their waitlist, but thanks to the new facility, they've been able to increase their bed count to 30 residents. TLC's Vice President, Jeff Gallagher, shared details about the enhanced features designed with accessibility in mind. "We have specialized bathrooms that make it easy for individuals in wheelchairs to get in and out of tubs and easy to get people a bath and washed up," Gallagher told CBS17.
Renovations are also on the horizon for TLC's two other existing homes on their campus. "We're talking about people who may have lived here for 20, or 30 years, and have never had a new home," Crawford shared with ABC11. Describing the excitement comparable to that of a personal milestone, she added, "Just to have a place where they can really work, where the folks that we serve can learn and grow and be a part of this fabulous community right here in Raleigh."
The collaboration and financial backing that made this project possible came from a combination of donations, Wake County, and the city of Raleigh itself.
