For decades, New York State warehoused people with serious mental illness in adult homes. A landmark settlement on behalf of thousands of state adult homes residents gives them the opportunity to live, with supports, in their own homes. Adult homes are large board-and-care homes serving primarily people with serious mental illnesses. The court-approved settlement followed more than a decade of investigation, litigation, and negotiation. The state was found to be in violation of multiple disability rights laws, and many residents were found to be living in horrifying conditions. By the terms of the settlement, thousands of adult homes residents were given the opportunity to move out of the restrictive group homes and into supported housing in the community. Through monitoring, NYLPI and co-counsel hold the State to its commitments.

Click here to read the decision in the case. 

Pro bono co-counsel: Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP; co-counsel Disability Rights New York, the Bazelon Center, and Mobilization for Justice