Texana Center, which serves people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in six counties west of Houston, will close all 14 of its group homes over the next several months, displacing about 50 people, the Houston Chronicle reported on June 16, 2025.
An industry under strain
The Chronicle reported that a survey by three statewide provider associations found 229 group homes closed between early 2023 and 2024, with 126 more expected to close. Vacancy rates for direct support professionals in group homes rose from 30% in 2021 to about 34%, according to the survey.
The closures came as lawmakers had just raised the base wage for these workers from $10.60 to $13 an hour. Advocates told the paper that was still not enough to compete with retail and fast-food jobs. Nearly 126,000 people were on the waiting list for Texas' Home and Community-based Services waiver, many for eight years or longer.
Why this mattered for providers and DSPs
When a provider agency exits residential services, people lose homes and staff lose jobs at the same time. Families must find another provider with an opening in a system where many are shrinking. For DSPs who stay in the field, closures often mean moving to a new agency and new people to support, or leaving the field altogether.