PRINTER'S NO. 2608
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No. 531
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY MURT, HILL-EVANS, KORTZ, DiGIROLAMO, SCHMITT,
KINSEY, LONGIETTI, BURNS, RYAN, BIZZARRO, MILLARD,
HOHENSTEIN, FREEMAN, YOUNGBLOOD, CALTAGIRONE, KIM, READSHAW,
MALAGARI, JOHNSON-HARRELL AND BROWN, SEPTEMBER 26, 2019
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES, SEPTEMBER 26, 2019
A RESOLUTION
1 Designating the month of October 2019 as "Lifesharing Awareness
2 Month" in Pennsylvania.
3 WHEREAS, Approximately 1,600 individuals with intellectual
4 disabilities receive lifesharing services in this Commonwealth
5 each year; and
6 WHEREAS, Lifesharing involves having an individual with an
7 intellectual disability share his or her life with supportive
8 people who form a caring household; and
9 WHEREAS, Lifesharing may happen in a provider's home or the
10 home of the individual with an intellectual disability, and
11 lifesharing may be offered by a couple, a single person or a
12 family; and
13 WHEREAS, The purpose of lifesharing is to enrich the lives of
14 individuals with intellectual disabilities by matching them with
15 an individual or a family who has chosen to open their home and
16 hearts; and
17 WHEREAS, Lifesharing is a mutual experience, not a
 1 hierarchical one; and
2 WHEREAS, Lifesharing provides a place to live for individuals
3 with intellectual disabilities in which they can develop close
4 and committed personal relationships; and
5 WHEREAS, Lifesharing, formerly known as Family Living, has
6 been provided in this Commonwealth for more than 30 years; and
7 WHEREAS, In 1982, a pilot lifesharing program officially
8 began with Threshold Rehabilitation Services, Inc., an agency
9 located in Reading; and
10 WHEREAS, Lifesharing became a viable living arrangement for
11 individuals with intellectual disabilities; and
12 WHEREAS, By 1997, lifesharing was available in every county
13 in this Commonwealth; and
14 WHEREAS, Individuals with intellectual disabilities who live
15 with foster parents through children and youth services are able
16 to continue living in those homes through lifesharing when they
17 reach 21 years of age in order to provide consistency and
18 continuity of care; and
19 WHEREAS, Data comparison from a Statewide independent
20 monitoring of residential services from 2007 through 2010
21 indicates that lifesharing participants consistently had the
22 highest level of consumer satisfaction with where they live; and
23 WHEREAS, Pennsylvania has a significant waiting list for
24 individuals with intellectual disabilities requesting
25 residential services due to the aging of caregivers and an aging
26 population in need of support; and
27 WHEREAS, Current models of support, such as intermediate care
28 facilities similar to institutions and home-based and community-
29 based services, require 24-hour staffing and may be
30 unsustainable; and
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 1 WHEREAS, Lifesharing costs less than both of these models
2 while providing more individualized support; and
3 WHEREAS, An average lifesharing budget is approximately
4 $45,000 per year compared to a community or group home budget of
5 approximately $150,000 per year; and
6 WHEREAS, According to the United States Census Bureau's
7 statistics in 2005, by the year 2030, the number of caregivers
8 available to care for nearly 75 million individuals 65 years of
9 age or older will be vastly insufficient; and
10 WHEREAS, Our workforce cannot keep pace with the demand, so
11 there will not be enough workers to care for the baby boomers;
12 and
13 WHEREAS, Lifesharing may be an option for many of these
14 individuals; and
15 WHEREAS, Lifesharing affords individuals with intellectual
16 disabilities opportunities for increased community
17 participation, potential for long-term relationships and the
18 ability to assume new social roles; and
19 WHEREAS, Lifesharing providers are advocates, friends and
20 mentors who share their homes with individuals with intellectual
21 disabilities and help them engage in community life, learn new
22 skills and make friends and good life choices that lead to
23 satisfying, safe and productive lives; and
24 WHEREAS, It is important to educate the public about
25 lifesharing and ensure that individuals with intellectual
26 disabilities are provided with information so that they may
27 choose lifesharing as a viable living arrangement; therefore be
28 it
29 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the
30 month of October 2019 as "Lifesharing Awareness Month" in
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1 Pennsylvania.
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