Lack of funds shuts down northern Colorado special needs homes

State funding shortfalls mean that Gateway, Inc. and Mosaic will  begin shutting down some of their group homes in Larimer County for people with disabilities, the Coloradoan reports. More than 60 residents will be affected.

In a February letter to Sen. Vicki Marble, Foothills board member John Haley said the deficit for the nonprofit's residential program is around $400,000 per year and that current state rates for such services are at 70.3 percent of recommended rates. He said all of the organization's residential homes were operating a deficit due to rate decreases and staffing costs.

Many of the displaced residents are being moved to "alternative services," the newspaper reports.