Wage Hike Cuts into Services for People with Intellectual, Developmental Challenges
April 9, 2018
By: Patty Machelor, Arizona Daily Star
Source: Arizona Daily Sun
TUCSON — Housing and services for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities have become harder to find and less affordable throughout Arizona, an “unintended consequence” of the recent minimum wage increase.
It’s left Tucson families worrying about finding help as in-home assistance and daytime programs become scarce, and group homes close or merge.
The Arizona minimum wage began increasing in 2017 from $8.05 to the current $10.50 per hour.
Since then, it’s become increasingly difficult for service agencies to attract and retain employees, said Mark G. Monson, chief executive officer of Tucson-based Community Provider of Enrichment Services.
Employees who leave are finding easier work elsewhere for the same pay.