An Unfinished Journey:

Murphy v. Harpstead: Beyond Group Homes

Group homes were—and still are—a vast improvement over the institutions of the past. But for some, group homes became another form of segregation. In 2016, plaintiffs living in group homes in Minnesota filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota claiming that the state's placement policies over-relied on group homes. The plaintiffs, who were represented by Legal Aid's Disability Law Center, wanted system-wide reform to give people with disabilities more choice about where they lived consistent with Olmstead and the Constitution.

In 2019, Judge Donovan W. Frank ruled that the state's policy violated the Constitution. The parties agreed to a settlement in 2022, requiring the state to take concrete steps to improve access and opportunities to people who wished to move out of a group home. Judge Frank's 2023 order approving the settlement agreement ended with these words:

"People with disabilities confront stigma and discrimination on a regular basis. It is a shameful part of our country's past and present. While many issues remain that are separate from this litigation, the Court is hopeful that this Agreement will create positive change … Ultimately, we will all be judged by how we treat the most vulnerable members of our society."

Photo: Black and white photo of two individuals sitting together smiling. The person on the left has short hair pulled back and is wearing glasses and a gingham blouse. The person on the right has bangs and short hair and is wearing a turtleneck and V-neck sweater. Ann Marsden, photographer

Photo: Individual who is a named plaintiff in the Murphy lawsuit wearing a bright pink top using a wheelchair next to a table with artwork and a bouquet of flowers.

Stock photo: Aerial view of a suburban neighborhood with several houses and tall trees in blue tones.

Link: Murphy-v-Harpstead.pdf (disabilityjustice.org)