Mr. Miller:
I am very sorry to hear of the circumstances facing Ms. Goodwin and her family. Thank you for sharing her story and helping illuminate the critical need for immediate passage of a state budget with adequate funding for supportive housing.
In communities across Illinois, affordable supportive housing is all that stands between 12,000 men, women and children and a return to homelessness or other settings far more expensive for taxpayers. These individuals are formerly homeless and/or have special needs such as a mental illness, intellectual and developmental disability, or chronic, debilitating physical illnesses like multiple sclerosis or HIV/AIDS. Because of issues with post-traumatic stress disorder and substance abuse, veterans often are among the population served.
The absence of a state budget and resulting lack of funds for supportive housing threatens to drive these vulnerable people to the streets, jails, state institutions or nursing homes – alternatives to which they go when they cannot access these services. Taxpayers would then bear the cost of their emergency room visits, incarceration and other far more expensive crisis response measures.
The scenario could get even worse. If state policy makers don’t resolve the budget soon, local supportive housing providers could lose federal funding as well. Implosion of the state’s human services infrastructure – and the toll for Illinois communities – would be far-reaching and lasting.
For each dollar the state allocates for certain homeless supportive housing services, the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development provides three. But Illinois providers must demonstrate by Nov. 20 that $7.6 million in state funds will be available in order to leverage the annual federal funds. If they can’t do that, they risk forfeiting $23 million – an entire fiscal year of federal funds.
Without state funds dedicated by the Nov. 20 deadline, there is no assurance the federal matching dollars will materialize over the next year. If the agencies managing supportive housing services lose that support, closures and wholesale service reductions will be unavoidable.
After food and clothing, shelter is the most elemental need; without the stability and safety it affords, individuals cannot overcome the challenges they face. Positive outcomes of supportive housing include housing stability and retention, improved quality of life and health outcomes, reduced homelessness and emergency room use, greater participation in behavioral health treatment, and lower healthcare costs.
We respectfully urge policy makers to immediately focus on approving a state budget with adequate funds for supportive housing. Failure to do so will prompt catastrophic consequences statewide, and it will significantly increase costs for taxpayers for years to come.
If I may be helpful in answering any questions you have about Illinois supportive housing, please do not hesitate to contact me directly. Thank for you for your time.
Sincerely,
Mike Bach
Executive Director
Supportive Housing Providers Association
- Wordslinger - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 12:28 pm:
No social agenda, indeed.
No businessman in charge, either.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 12:29 pm:
Governors own budgets.
This is an example of a governor’s priority spelled out with dollars in a budget, and signed by that governor.
As - @MisterJayEm - has been saying;
Bruce Rauner doesn’t care.
Governors care. It’s their job. Jim Edgar, a former Governor, said so.
- Ghost - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 12:30 pm:
so we lose nothing apending this money, and i fact it earns us an extra 14 million which could cover other services.
so its good for business if we lose 21 mill in revenue generation which can be spent with local buisness who pay taxes and employees etc….
what exactly does Rauner consider a successful business? is there a. usiness that would refuse to spend 7mill with a guranteed no risk return of 21mil just so it could get revenge on the middle class?
- Langhorne - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 12:31 pm:
We are winning handily. I will get back to you in january. It will be worth it. Hang in there. Make sure you leave your number.
- Chicago 20 - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 12:32 pm:
Wow Rauner can now take credit for saving millions in Federal dollars.
- Juvenal - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 12:32 pm:
As I have noted before, Rauner has said repeatedly stated that while “we” might be suffering, “we” will all be better off in the long run.
Amazingly, the Tribune editorial board has written almost the exact same thing verbatim.
But the truth is that the “we” who is suffering now and has the most to lose are the least among us, while the “we” who stands to gain the most if Rauner prevails in enacting his agenda is the wealthiest Illinoisans.
In fact, if Rauner gets his way, the “we” that is suffering human services cuts now will still be much worse off than they were under Quinn.
- JS Mill - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 12:37 pm:
State Meteorologist- Well Governor, on the plus side it looks like we are going to have average precipitation and a mild winter!
The Gov- Well crap!! How am I going to drive wedges if we have a mild winter that will make it easy on the needy and the homeless? (think child throwing tantrum scene)
- Henry Francis - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 12:38 pm:
Is the governor running the state as a businessman, or a win at all costs ideologue?
- Juice - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 12:41 pm:
Well, good thing they’re talking on the 18th then. Just in time! /s
- The Way I See It - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 12:43 pm:
Part of me believes that they don’t care that this money would be lost if there was no budget. Part of me believes that they didn’t know.
Not sure which is worse.
- Belle - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 12:44 pm:
First of all, this is a loss for businesses across the state. Once this money is received and given out, the people receiving it SPEND it. They go to the Jewel, the Dollar Store or where-ever and spend it. They don’t save it or give it to their broker at Smith Barney.
I’m totally disgusted by Rauner and Madigan.
This info needs to be in the normal news where everyone can hear it and be aware of it.
- sideline watccher - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 12:46 pm:
Maybe this story will actually penetrate the echo chamber. I’m so tired of the status quo and the hang in there quotes and the folks saying this is all worth it. Until something catastrophic happens in the childcare crisis…folks don’t care. Until something catastrophic happens in the senior services arena…folks just don’t care. I’m sure Ashley Goodwin and her husband and two toddlers are really concerned about collective bargaining rights and workers compensation right now while they are facing homelessness. I am really afraid of what is happening right now and callousness with which it is discussed is just heartbreaking.
- Formerly Known As... - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 12:46 pm:
If only they had agreed to a temporary budget or budget extension as it looked like they were about to a few months ago.
Instead, they decided to sabotage it and face off. Shameful.
- Just Saying .... - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 12:47 pm:
Damn. You don’t have to be a bleeding liberal to have compassion and concern for our homeless. Are we going back to the days when former GOP Senate President said ‘Homeless …. I don’t see any homeless” ?
They need to pack a bunch of greyhounds and send in these homeless to the Hinsdale or Wheaton areas some Sunday afternoon and go visit with these folks who believe state programs are not beneficial.
- Politix - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 12:47 pm:
This is true of many federal grants made to states. And when you return funds, the fed interprets as unneeded. This leads to a lower state award in following years.
- VanillaMan - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 12:49 pm:
It looks like Rauner has gone from taking hostages, to using those hostages as human shields.
…and some people are still holding out hope that he is doing the right thing? They must have a stash of canned goods and potable water stored in their basements.
- burbanite - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 12:53 pm:
The point Politix is making at 12:47 should really be highlighted, I am sure these are not the only federal funds that Illinois is losing or at risk to lose and it does result in loss to future grant money as well. The human cost here is heartbreaking.
- cdog - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 12:56 pm:
Is there a chance that the Rbots can cooperate in the legislature on this like they did on the Heroin veto override?
Add it to SB570
Come on folks. Think this through.
- olddog - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 12:56 pm:
=== Is the governor running the state as a businessman, or a win at all costs ideologue? ===
Interesting piece headlined “The Bolshevik Roots of the Tea Party” by Alexi Bayer, an international financial markets analyst with The Globalist, draws some tactical parallels. I would argue Rauner’s refusal to compromise fits the same pattern.
http://www.theglobalist.com/the-bolshevik-roots-of-the-u-s-tea-party/
- Norseman - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 12:56 pm:
Thank you for your sacrifice. Bruce
- bored now - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 1:03 pm:
there’s no savings in federal dollars, chicago 20. if it is not used in illinois, it will go elsewhere. federal departments basically have a use it or lose it provision in their budgets, and no one wants to lose hard-earned (out of congress) dollars in their dept budgets.
when kansas did this, the money went to new york. second city, y’all…
- 360 Degree TurnAround - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 1:11 pm:
Is anyone alive in the House Republican caucus? You are the key to breaking this impasse. Let’s pull a quote from Rich’s column this morning: “But, one member asked, what if the roll call hits the magic number of 71 and the bill is gonna pass anyway? Could Republicans then vote for it?”
Please Bruce, may I have your permission to vote for the constituents in my district. may I have your permission to vote to help needy families?
- Jeff Trigg - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 1:13 pm:
Anyone want to talk about zoning laws that forbid mobile homes and other cheap housing that make it much, much more expensive to live in many areas of this state? Ok, then, never mind.
I know, we need those property values UP, so more property tax can be collected. And we can’t have a mobile home a half mile down the road from a McMansion, heaven forbid, it might affect the value of their home when they want to resell.
And if we have more affordable housing with more mobile homes in the housing market, it might become uncouth to make fun of trailer trash in popular culture. Using “tiny houses” to help out the homeless in places all over the country, even Denver, CO? NO, we can’t have that, local authorities need to come confiscate any housing on wheels for the homeless because they don’t meet local building codes.
Sorry, not sorry, but you are NOT helping the poor and disadvantaged with DraftKing and FanDuel legislation, while housing costs skyrocket when it is next to impossible meet local zoning and building codes. Loosening up those restrictions and regulations would actually go a long ways toward helping those in need.
It really is sad how completely out of touch modern politicians have become with the Goodwin families in this state and country. How can we reduce government created burdens on the poor in Illinois? $101 for license plates? $95 for a car title? Higher insurance costs because rich people drive $50,000 cars these days while a poor person has a $1,500 car in constant need of repair? Taxes on electricity and gas and water and phone and internet? Government taking ANY taxes for any reason out of their measly income of less that $20,000/yr?
Illinois has a top 5 highest tax burden of all the states on poor people. Fix that while you are doing nothing but piddling around waiting for privileged white folks Rauner, Madigan, and Cullerton to do anything constructive. There are lots of reforms that can be made to help the poor that don’t have anything to do with a budget or associated programs that give benefits away to a narrow selection of people with dependent children. The Goodwins, believe it or not, are lucky they have young kids, because without those kids they wouldn’t qualify for hardly any state help.
Rant over.
- cdog - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 1:21 pm:
rant heard.
You know, more corporate welfare can fix all that? Right? /s
- cdog - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 1:24 pm:
You know, this can be fixed by supply-side/voodoo economics, where all the job creators are not greedy and their windfall profits trickle down to homeless people?
/s
- Jeff Trigg - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 1:38 pm:
“You know, more corporate welfare can fix all that? Right?”
$7.3 million for new White Sox video boards next year, yippee!!!
- Formerly Known As... - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 1:48 pm:
==You know, more corporate welfare can fix all that?==
Are Sears, CME Group, Navistar, Motorola and their friends asking for more already?
- Honeybear - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 2:01 pm:
Yep there’s some bad damage. It’s real. It’s ugly. It’s a shame that it’s “worth it” to Rauner and those he controls.
- HangingOn - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 2:03 pm:
==Rauner has said repeatedly stated that while “we” might be suffering==
Yeah, I just keep thinking “we” who? I think if he wants to play the victim he needs to get more into the part. I know, until a budget is in place he can live in his VAN down by the RIVER. Then maybe the “we” will have a little more effect.
- Honeybear - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 2:09 pm:
It’s aweful that the regular media doesn’t report on this stuff. Thank God for Capfax. And to those who think Capfax is a liberal tool, think again. I can personally attest to the fair and balanced nature of this maintained blog space. Many a time as progressive poster have my posts been deleted before getting onto the floor. Admittedly all for good cause. I got hot about something, wrote something stupid, mean, or ignorant and got deleted. I’m glad that folks all over the state are reading and posting.
- Nick Name - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 3:27 pm:
“If only they had agreed to a temporary budget or budget extension as it looked like they were about to a few months ago.
Instead, they decided to sabotage it and face off. Shameful.”
“They”? I thought it was Rauner who unilaterally rejected the idea of a temporary budget.
- Anon221 - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 3:47 pm:
Here’s an assignment for the Comptroller’s office, and all State Agencies (if anyone is listening in)-
Take a few minutes, or an hour of State time, we as taxpayers won’t begrudge you the time, and draw up a spreadsheet showing how much Federal dollars Illinois stands to lose, how much of a match the state needs to provide to leverage those dollars, and the date the lose will occur if Illinois doesn’t not provide a match. Then submit that list to the Executive and Legislative branches so it can be placed on the agenda for the Nov 18th meeting. Better yet, place it on The Ledger site and let the People of this State know what THEY are losing out on and may never recoup!
- Anon221 - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 3:50 pm:
I apologize for my poor grammar above. I’m past mad at the foolishness and total lack of comprehension of what we as a State stand to lose.
- Say no to big government - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 4:08 pm:
I read the story about the Goodwins and it is sad. What is even sadder is the response from some who think government should be helping them out. One of our problems is we rely on the government to solve problems. We stand there and point fingers at the problem and expect the government to go in there and solve the problem. Communities/neighbors need to solve these problems and hopefully a few good people in Danville will give the Goodwins a helping hand.
- Anon221 - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 4:14 pm:
Say no- please provide a list of all the programs that you feel need to eliminated, then we can have a discussion. Otherwise your post is pointless.
- Skeptic - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 4:52 pm:
Isn’t it sad that we rely on the government to fill potholes? I mean, what’s up with that?
- Formerly Known As... - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 5:10 pm:
==“They”? I thought it was Rauner who unilaterally rejected the idea of a temporary budget.==
iirc, it was all good until Madigan made a late addition to the bill that he knew was a deal breaker for Rauner.
- Say no to big government - Friday, Nov 13, 15 @ 4:00 pm:
to Anon221:
Let’s start with government funding of the arts and humanities and NPR and PBS. Let’s discuss why the state has to have two state fairs, which probably do not turn a profit. Let’s discuss some the historic sites the state maintains like a little tiny cottage in Bement that is operated as a historic site just because Abe was there once. I could go on, but more importantly, we need to discuss if we want to be a people of entitlements, looking to Big Brother to be there for us, or we want to be a country where people are driven to provide for themselves and help out those in need directly, not through taxation and big government.