Ohio mental health advocates celebrate budget victory

A gathering at the statehouse yesterday of about 300 mental health group home residents and caregivers celebrated State Sen. Jimmy Stewart’s pledge to restore $3.8 million to the state budget for group homes (Source: “Forgotten 'lobby' pleads its case,” Columbus Dispatch, May 1, 2009).

The move by Stewart, an Athens Republican, comes after the funds had been cut by Gov. Ted Strickland and were not restored by House Democrats. The cuts came from $8 million originally set aside in the budget for the Residential State Supplemental Program.

Dispensed through the Department of Aging, the program helps pay for room and board for aged, blind or disabled Social Security beneficiaries. It amounts to $24 to $28 a day for about 1,800 people in the program statewide.