Facility for challenged may close

CHESAPEAKE, Va. - The state budget axe could fall on the Southeastern Virginia Training Center in Chesapeake.

Governor Tim Kaine has proposed closing the facilty that helps the mentally challenged in June, to save more than $8-million a year.

Families facing that grim possibility are telling their stories to WAVY.com.

The center has served as a home for mentally challenged children and adults since 1975. Many of them have spent the bulk of their lives there, and now, families are faced with an uncertain future for their loved ones.

Southeastern Virginia Training Center residents' families all agree on one thing - they don't want it to shut down. Alice Johnson has a son and a daughter at the facilty. Her son Shawn has been at the facility for four years.

"He has severe mental retardation, plus a couple of other complications. He needs 24 hour strict supervision and care," explained Johnson.

His sister April has lived at the facility  for 18 years.

"Without southeastern my daughter would have died 18 years ago probably. They have given her everything that she's needed. They take the time to dress her, undress her, bathe her, feed her, walk her, which is one of the most important things I could ever wish for," Johnson continued.

She says the facility provides her children with a loving home and caring staffers. That's the sentiment shared by Elvie Reid who says her sister has lived at Southeastern for 27 years now and doesn't want her relocated.

"I can sleep well at night because I feel she's protected here. But if she's in the community I would worry if she's safe there," said Reid.

Reid showed WAVY.com signatures she's collected on petitions in hopes of keeping southeastern open. Alice Johnson sums it up this way, "I think closing southeastern is the worst thing they could possibly ever do. It's horrifying."

And loved ones agree.

Other parents say they've written letters to lawmakers, the governor and the first lady in hopes of changing any plans to close the center.