FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 15, 2025
DISABILITY ADVOCATES RELEASE REPORT ON CRISIS IN UNLICENSED PERSONAL CARE HOMES, DELIVER TO STATE LEGISLATURE
JACKSON, Mississippi — Disability Rights Mississippi (DRMS) has released a new public report, “Unlicensed Personal Care Homes in Mississippi: A Crisis of Neglect, Financial Exploitation, and Unsafe Living Conditions.” The report was delivered to both chambers of the state legislature earlier this week.
Investigations conducted (DRMS) have uncovered a significant number of unlicensed personal care homes (UPCH) across the state. The data gathered by DRMS for these investigations point to widespread and recurring violations, misconduct, and discriminatory practices within the personal care home industry.
DRMS will hold a press conference discussing the report on Thursday, January 16 at 1:00 p.m. on the Mississippi Capitol south steps.
Personal care homes are intended to serve as a haven for many of those most in need of assistance, including those with severe mental illness, veterans, and people with disabilities who have no family to help care for them. However, instead of providing care as promised, these “homes” are often facilities with abhorrent conditions where exploitation can run rampant. Instances of these conditions are highlighted throughout this report and include:
- DRMS found a resident living in a personal care home in Long Beach. The home had a
shed built on the outside of the house, and one wall was completely composed of hanging
blankets.
- DRMS found that a resident in a UPCH in Jackson was admitted to the ICU for
hypothermia, sepsis, and additional wounds.
- DRMS has observed UPCHs placing residents in tents on their property to claim that only
three people are “actually inside the house.”
The full report can be found HERE.
“Throughout 2024, DRMS filed over a dozen lawsuits against operators of unlicensed personal care homes and has been successful in these UPCHs either closing or going through the proper licensing process,” said Polly Tribble, DRMS Executive Director. “However, DRMS cannot take on the burden of monitoring the dozens, if not hundreds of UPCHs. The time is now for our state legislators to act to strengthen licensing requirements, close loopholes, and create punitive measures for those operating illegally. The health, safety, and flourishing of some of our state’s most vulnerable citizens depend on it.”
DRMS is the federally mandated protection and advocacy (P&A) agency for the state of Mississippi. DRMS’ mission is to promote, protect and advocate for the legal and human rights of all people with disabilities, and to assist them with full inclusion in home, community, education, and employment.
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For all press inquiries, contact Jane Carroll, DRMS Communications Director, at jcarroll@drms.ms or 601-968-0600 ext. 234.
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