In 2015, DRW discovered there were 50 people in Residential Habilitation Centers (RHCs) who had said they wanted to live in the community but were waiting to find a supported living provider.
By Spring 2016, DRW learned there were another 41 people already on a home and community-based waiver who were going without the supported living services they need to stay in the community and out of institutions.
In August 2016, DRW filed an Olmstead lawsuit against the Department of Social and Health Service (DSHS) and the Health Care Authority (HCA). This case is about giving people who wish to live in the community the supports needed to be successful living out of institutions.
C.F. v. Lashway, No. 2:16-cv-01205-RSM, is a class action lawsuit filed in the Western District Court of Washington. Plaintiffs C.F., J.P., and L.B. brought this case against the Secretary of the Washington State DSHS and the Director of Washington’s HCA on behalf of themselves and similarly situated individuals. They allege that DSHS and HCA do not have an adequate system for ensuring they receive necessary services in the most integrated setting appropriate for their needs. They further allege there is no effectively working plan to ensure these plaintiffs and potential class members will avoid institutionalization. The lawsuit seeks to secure systemic reforms to establish a system to provide community-based integrated placement for plaintiffs and class members who need community-based habilitative services to avoid institutionalization.