Laura Thrall, United Way president and CEO, explains why private funding cannot fill state budget gap at human service rally at the Thompson Center.
In this article:”What State Budget Cuts Mean”
The State of Illinois has passed a budget that cuts by half health and human services across the state. However, it is not too late to reverse the dire consequences that are sure to result if this vote stands. During the week of June 22, Governor Quinn has the option to recall law makers for a re-vote on the budget. United Way is calling on its supporters to help the hundreds of thousands of people who will be affected by this budget proposal. Already, the Illinois Department of Human Services is looking to close four mental health facilities, eliminate substance abuse treatment and prevention programs and slash all human service agency budgets by 75%. The negative effects of this will impact people for years to come.
Although the state is facing a massive budget shortfall—cutting health and human services is not the answer. Studies have shown that every $1 invested in community services returns $6-8 to Illinois taxpayers.
United Way partner agency programs have once again been forced to tighten belts after already working on shoestring budgets, while record numbers of people are seeking the services they provide. At United Way alone, funding applications for programs that help people become financially stable have doubled, and for every $6 of requests, there was only $1 of funding available.
Just over 75 years ago, in the grip of the Great Depression, the people of Chicago came together to create, fund and sustain a network of community services to help people in their time of need, a network eventually known as United Way. As history seems to be repeating itself, we look to the people in our region to encourage their state legislators to work side by side with us to promote the common good and protect its citizens by maintaining funding for health and human services.
How you can help:
Contact your Illinois legislator and tell him or her that holding the line on Health and Human Services funding is critical if Illinois is to be positioned for future growth and prosperity. Click here for information on how to reach your State Senator or your State Representative.
For more information, please email Jack Kaplan, director of public policy and advocacy for United Way of Metropolitan Chicago and Untied Way of Illinois at jkaplan@uw-mc.org.
I heard about a meeting with legislators on Saturday, June 20. Please sent info. In addition to email, 312-747-3560 – day and 773-843-1267 – home. Thanks!