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The 65 percent “solution”

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* From Housing Action Illinois

What does the stopgap budget mean for efforts to protect and expand affordable housing and end homelessness?

The percentage of funding available in the stopgap budget for each state-funded program to create affordable housing and end homelessness compared to the last year for which there was an actual budget, FY 2015, varies based on the funding source and appropriation levels. See our breakdown of funding levels for programs to create affordable housing and end homelessness in the stopgap budget »

Dedicated funds for affordable housing (e.g., the Illinois Affordable Housing Trust Fund) were generally fully appropriated both for fiscal year 2016 and the fiscal year 2017. Programs that historically have been funded through General Revenue Funds only received partial appropriations for costs incurred during FY 2016 (ending June 30, 2016) and the first half of FY 2017 (ending on December 31, 2016) using funds from the Commitment to Human Services Fund (which is funded through income taxes).

In general, the stopgap budget means:

State-funded service providers with contracts will need to get more information from state agencies, such as the Illinois Department of Human Services and the Illinois Housing Development Authority, to determine specific funding amounts for services already provided during FY 2016 and/or to be provided during FY 2017.

A report that we issued less than three months into the year-long state budget impasse demonstrated that people were becoming homeless due to the impasse as most every state-funded agency took one or more of the following actions—limiting intake of new clients; reducing or eliminating services for current clients; staff layoffs, implementing furlough days or reduced work hours for staff; eliminating programs; and/or closing sites.

A subsequent report showed that the funds were available to make these steps unnecessary, but our elected leaders could not come to an agreement to spend the money.

There is a pause in the impasse, but our work is far from over. Stay tuned for future updates and actions.

* I followed up by asking what the “portion” would be. The response…

Hi Rich,

This spreadsheet has a more specific breakdown of the funding for various programs and compares them to other years’ funding levels. It should give a better sense of percentages.

Also, our Policy Director Bob Palmer pointed out that the “65% funding of human services for 18 months” level that most people are using to describe how the stopgap budget funds programs is a simplification: “Especially considering that Governor Rauner’s proposed budget was used as the base level, some programs, like supportive housing services for people who were formerly homeless, are receiving far less than 65% of funding because Governor Rauner had proposed significant cuts to those programs compared to FY15. Some programs, like homeless shelters, whose line item is funded with money from the Illinois Affordable Housing Trust Fund, will receive more than 65% funding.”

Hope all of that makes sense. Happy to answer any other questions!

Thanks,
Kristin Ginger
Communications Manager | Housing Action Illinois

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jul 6, 16 @ 10:04 am

Comments

  1. —Governor Rauner’s proposed budget was used as the base level,—

    There..right there…that’s the game for Rauner. He reset the level.

    That’s perfidy. That’s a bait and switch, obscured to hide it. The perfidy comes when the perception that he cares is promoted when in fact he’s moved the goal post and made assistance to our most vulnerable out of reach even more. Saying one thing and doing another is PERFIDY.

    Comment by Honeybear Wednesday, Jul 6, 16 @ 10:10 am

  2. FWIW, I’ve noticed a marked increase in the number of homeless folks panhandling on the streets of Chicago and many surrounding communities. This phenomenon probably isn’t limited to just the last year, but the past year’s worth of Illinois budget stupidity sure hasn’t helped.

    Comment by Linus Wednesday, Jul 6, 16 @ 10:11 am

  3. Question ( because I don’t know what the MI acronym stands for):

    What is this and why is it ZERO funded for FY 16 and 17?

    Supportive MI Housing

    Comment by Anon221 Wednesday, Jul 6, 16 @ 10:45 am

  4. Typical no-play, slow-pay, bustout schemer practices.

    He’s getting away with it. Expect more of the same.

    Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Jul 6, 16 @ 10:46 am

  5. Part of the bigger picture of services needed…

    http://wglt.org/post/homeless-bloomington-part-1#stream/3

    Comment by Anon221 Wednesday, Jul 6, 16 @ 10:52 am

  6. Some “homework” for why 65% is not enough of an investment… We can do so much better by not squeezing.

    https://www.illinois.gov/nursinghomesafety/Documents/Supportive%20Housing%20in%20Illinois%20-%20A%20Wise%20Investment.pdf

    Comment by Anon221 Wednesday, Jul 6, 16 @ 11:00 am

  7. ===Question ( because I don’t know what the MI acronym stands for):

    What is this and why is it ZERO funded for FY 16 and 17?

    Supportive MI Housing===

    The acronym stands for mental illness but I have no idea why it is zero funded.

    Comment by Cubs in '16 Wednesday, Jul 6, 16 @ 11:31 am

  8. Thanks Cubs. I thought that might be what it meant. Maybe Kristin could give some insight??? Seems like a massive line item to zero out, and I’m sure there are Federal dollars requiring matching funds available.

    Comment by Anon221 Wednesday, Jul 6, 16 @ 11:38 am

  9. Keeping the “homeless” without mental and health issues in Illinois with this kind of program is simply bad policy.

    The jobs for them simply aren’t here. They need to relocate to where there ARE jobs.

    Now THAT service is worth providing.

    Of course, my guess is that these folks can be counted on to vote Dem in every election, soooooo…..

    Comment by Illinois Bob Wednesday, Jul 6, 16 @ 12:01 pm

  10. To determine the total funding for each line item in the spreadsheet you have to add the column for the Commitment to Human Services Fund and the columns for “Other State Funds” for FY16 and FY17. Supportive MI Housing funds only come from the Commitment to Human Services Fund. This line item is administered by the IDHS’ Division of Mental Health. The Supportive Housing Services line item, administered by IDHS’ Bureau of Homeless Services, has funding from two different sources, but was funded at a much lower level than FY15 overall. Because this line item was cut so much, permanent supportive housing providers for people who previously were homeless will get far less than 65% of funding compared to the last year we had a full year budget, FY 15. The amount the Governor Rauner had proposed for Supportive Housing Services in his own budget proposals had been even lower than what’s in the “stopgap” 18-month budget.

    Comment by bobahail Wednesday, Jul 6, 16 @ 1:40 pm

  11. Thanks bobahail:)

    Comment by Anon221 Wednesday, Jul 6, 16 @ 2:18 pm

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