Melanie Grace Babbitt, a licensed clinical social worker and union member, told the Mayor's Committee for People with Disabilities on Feb. 7 that low wages and staffing shortages in state-licensed group homes are contributing to harm for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

"My name is Melanie Grace Babbitt. I'm here today as a community member, as a licensed clinical social worker, and as a union member with the United Workers of Integral Care," Babbitt said. She described recent news reporting of an alleged assault and severe burn at a group home and said the staff implicated were paid $10.60 an hour.

Babbitt said advocates are seeking an $18-an-hour wage in the current legislative session but that a draft under consideration would raise rates only to $12 an hour. "If the legislators can't change something at a state level, is there something that can be done at a city level?" she asked.

Committee Chair Melanie Babbitt thanked the speaker and said the committee could keep the matter in mind and “think about setting that for a future agenda item.” Commissioner Jennifer Powell echoed the need to raise awareness while noting the limits of city authority, citing prior city wage studies used for city-owned properties such as the Austin Hilton hotel as an example of a municipal tool that would not apply to privately run group homes.

The presentation was a public communication item; there was no formal motion or vote on the subject. Committee staff indicated they would pass Babbitt's contact information to committee members and that the item could be scheduled for future discussion if the committee chooses.

Why it matters: Babbitt framed the issue as a workforce and safety problem affecting adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) who live in licensed group homes. She tied alleged incidents of abuse to low pay and recruitment of workers with limited options, and urged the committee to use its platform to press for changes or to request staff follow-up.

The committee recorded no immediate formal action beyond the chair's direction to consider the request for a future agenda. Committee members and staff suggested the most direct levers to change wage rules for state-licensed group homes are at the state legislature, and recommended advocacy directed at that level alongside local awareness-raising.

Looking ahead: The committee did not set a date for further action during the meeting. Babbitt said she will speak to the legislature and offered her contact information to committee staff.