A Democratic proposal with the potential to transform life for the elderly and people with disabilities may get less than half the funding its champions envisioned, according to multiple sources involved in Capitol Hill deliberations.

The proposal would dramatically strengthen federal support for what are known as “home- and community-based services,” or HCBS for short. It’s a catch-all phrase for programs that make it possible for elderly and disabled Americans to live on their own, outside of institutions. In practice, it can mean everything from caregivers who help with hygiene to nonprofit organizations that help with housing and job placement.

President Joe Biden and Democratic leaders have said repeatedly that they want the home and community proposal to be part of the large spending legislation they are now writing and hope to pass this year. But they are saying the same thing about other initiatives, like proposals to add dental coverage to Medicare and get Medicaid to people in Republican-led states that haven’t expanded their programs.