The North Carolina State FY 21-23 budget passed in November 2021 includes funding to raise the rates for Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) and Intermediate Care Facilities (ICFs), including a wage passthrough for the direct care workers employed in those programs. This means that the majority of the increase in rates paid to providers will be used to increase wages to direct care workers and workers in these programs will be paid at least $15/hr. NDWA’s NC members were relentless in their legislative advocacy, showing up to the state Capitol, calling their reps, speaking at press conferences, and talking to their co-workers and other care workers about our movement.