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* From ABC 7’s I-Team…
Illinois has no state budget, but it does have more homeless people - and the two are connected according to a scathing report set for release on Thursday.
As Springfield fiddles with a state budget two months after the last one expired, the number of homeless across the state has spiked, according to data the I-Team obtained Wednesday night. The report, authored by the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, chides Gov. Bruce Rauner and state leaders for using children and families as bargaining chips in a political fight.
This summer, the I-Team reported on a visible homeless surge in Chicago. An estimated population of 140,000 homeless live in shelters and tents, in parks and under expressways. More than 22,000 of the homeless are Chicago Public Schools students.
Against this backdrop, state leaders in Springfield have been unable to agree on a budget, and because of that, a report from more than 100 social service agencies across Illinois will cite a surge in the number of homeless on the streets this summer, and they blame state officials. […]
The I-Team asked Gov. Rauner and House Speaker Michael Madigan whether their standoff is causing homelessness. Only Gov. Rauner responded, saying in a statement: “Illinois is facing a $4 billion deficit because the state’s finances were mishandled for years. Governor Rauner is trying to reverse the status quo to stop the death spiral. His Turnaround Agenda will create jobs to grow the economy and free up resources to help the most vulnerable. Unfortunately, the majority party continues to block the governor’s reforms to protect the political class at the expense of the most vulnerable.”
The earlier story is here.
* From a press release…
The state budget impasse has resulted in homeless service providers not receiving any state funding since July 1, 2015 for several key programs, including Emergency and Transitional Housing, Homelessness Prevention, Homeless Youth and Supportive Housing Services.
“One of our adolescent substance abuse treatment programs has closed, impacting 90 youth. If the budget impasse is not resolved in September, we will have to eliminate our host home and shelter services for runaway and homeless youth who are seeking a safe and better future away from violence in their homes and on the streets,” said Rick Velasquez, Executive Director of Youth Outreach Services in Chicago.
The majority of providers (59%) are also experiencing an increased demand for services because of the unavailability of other services once provided by other agencies. In addition, the vast majority of providers (85%) are concerned about how the absence of state funds could impact their ability to provide matching funding for federal dollars.
“We provide services to over 800 people a year, including a 24-hour domestic violence shelter, emergency shelter and transitional housing. On average, we have 60 women and children in shelter at any time. Payroll alone is over $40,000 every two weeks. We had cash reserves but they are gone. We have the cash on hand to make one more payroll in September. And then we don’t know what we’ll do. If we lay off staff, then we put our federal funding at risk,” said Isak Griffiths, Executive Director for Courage Connection, which serves Champaign-Urbana and the surrounding area.
The survey was conducted between August 14, 2015 and September 2, 2015. The advocacy organizations that developed the survey were the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, CSH, Housing Action Illinois and Supportive Housing Providers Association. One hundred and one homeless service providers responded—agencies large and small, from urban, suburban and rural communities.
* The report can be read by clicking here…
The state budget impasse caused by the inability of Governor Rauner and the General Assembly to agree on a budget with adequate revenue to support critical human service programs, is already having this impact on homeless service providers:
• Putting people in a crisis that contributes to their homelessness: 41% of agencies have limited the intake of new clients and 39% have eliminated services for current clients.
• Reducing the capacity of homeless service providers to assist people prevent, or end their homelessness: 33% of agencies have eliminated programs and 32% have closed sites.
* Some charts…
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 9:17 am
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And the governor can only respond with more buzzwords. I’d be surprised if his staff even read the e-mail.
Comment by Tournaround Agenda Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 9:24 am
I’m trying to find how the Gov’s response answers the question. At least he learned the art of the political dodge well enough in his first 9 months in office.
Comment by Not quite a majority Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 9:25 am
–”Illinois is facing a $4 billion deficit because the state’s finances were mishandled for years.”–
That’s a bizarre statement. The comptroller has the difference between FY16 revenues and expenditures at $6 billion plus and counting.
The current year deficit was not inevitable and is a result of choices being made right now.
Comment by Wordslinger Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 9:30 am
“His Turnaround Agenda will create jobs to grow the economy and free up resources to help the most vulnerable.”
How?
Comment by burbanite Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 9:31 am
@turnaround- it isn’t just the Governor. He isn’t leading so he isn’t helping. Neither is the rest of leadership. They all own these outcomes albeit in varying degrees. No one is off the hook.
Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 9:31 am
Illinois’ labor participation rate is near 40-year lows. We had the worst recovery from the Great Recession during the Quinn years. This underscores the need for economic reforms. https://www.illinoispolicy.org/record-number-of-illinoisans-out-of-workforce-labor-participation-rate-at-37-year-lows/
Comment by Kitelite Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 9:31 am
Rauner’s going to “turnaround Illinois” and fix the state, dammit, even if he has to put every last man, woman, and child on the street to do it…
Comment by Anon Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 9:34 am
–His turnaround agenda will create jobs to grow the economy and free up resources to help the most vulnerable.–
Maybe the governor can show his work on how he reached those conclusions. If it’s truly an economic agenda, and not a political one, there must be some rationales and estimates as to increases in growth rates, jobs and “resources.”
But it’s just snake oil.
Comment by Wordslinger Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 9:37 am
These well paid executives responding to a survey claim these occur because of the budget impasse. These are no longer charities but government contractors upset the government no longer funds them. Boo Hoo.
Comment by anon Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 9:37 am
Coming up to 25% of his time in office complete — and Rauner has done absolutely nothing. Nothing.
He’s made things far worse than they were when he entered office. Yet folks still believe?
Crazy, crazy times.
Comment by Frenchie Mendoza Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 9:39 am
All those Illinoisans who think their taxes are too high, wailing and bellowing that they are going to have to move to another state, best start packing because this is the result of too little revenue and bad governance. I blame ALL legislators and governors past and present. Now read this article well. Those of faith, take it to church or temple. We’re going to have to help on an individual level. Consider sending money or volunteering for something this weekend. Our government has failed us.
Comment by Honeybear Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 9:39 am
Illinois is facing a $4 billion deficit because the state’s finances were mishandled for years. TRUE
Governor Rauner is trying to reverse the status quo to stop thE death spiral. FALSE
HisTurnaround Agenda will create jobs to grow the economy
and free up resources to help the most vulnerable. FALSE
Unfortunately, the majority party continues to block the governors reforms, to protect the political class at the expense of the most vulnerable. FALSE
Comment by Langhorne Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 9:39 am
That Chuck Goudie, he can chase people with cameras and a microphone, but actually getting deeper into the “why”… You know, besides accepting the ignorant Rauner talking points that say absolutely nothing as to… how… that works, not so much.
I’m glad Goudie’s on “Our Side”
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 9:43 am
Cutting back on funding mental health facilities and services does not help the homeless situation. Many people who are mentally ill end up homeless. Some end up in the Cook Co. jail. A very bad and expensive outcome.
Losing federal matching funds is reverse leveraging and will make those programs literally cost twice as much.
Comment by DuPage Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 9:44 am
Rauner the Bruce’s response sounds Orwellian — those lines could have come out of 1984.
Comment by The Velour Nail Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 9:44 am
@ Kitelite 9:31am — you do realize, don’t you, when you cite an Illinois Policy Institute study, you’re showing a right-wing ideological bias?
Comment by olddog Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 9:44 am
Wait so reducing the backlog of bills from 10 B to 5.6 B while making full pension payments and funding services at reduced spending levels wasn’t taking care of the finances?
I blame the leaders. All of them. Tired of letting Radogno and Durbin off the hook.
Comment by sideline watcher Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 9:46 am
Social service agencies would be wise to put their heads together and come up with hard statewide numbers on layoffs, programs eliminated and people denied service.
Comment by Wordslinger Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 9:48 am
@Langhorne I think you answered all four correctly. I don’t know if we were in a death spiral before Rauner took office but we are headed that way now. Looking at the numbers no one can dispute that we are in worse shape now than we were at he beginning of the year. It doesn’t matter if it’s the homeless, the disabled, or the average middle class worker trying to make ends meet. All of those concerns are low priority to the Rauner administration. The Turnaround agenda is an obsession and everything else can wait. The turnaround agenda will not help these vulnerable citizens either. What it will do is increase profits for the haves at the expense of the average worker.
Comment by The Dude Abides Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 9:49 am
How many people have to suffer because Rauner and his super-wealthy supporters keep insisting on gutting union rights? How is Illinois going to have a worthwhile economy if wages and benefits of thousands of workers are pushed down? How are we going to generate adequate revenue when the consumer spending of thousands of workers is reduced?
Rauner and Uihlein truly don’t understand the struggles of so-called working class people. Both were born with silver spoons in their mouths. They don’t know or understand that things happen in families, such as illnesses and job losses, that exert a lot of economic strain.
What’s happening to homeless people is what many want. They won’t say it here so much, but their comments are elsewhere. They hate government assistance and collectivism–welfare programs that help our most vulnerable. To them things are proceeding nicely, with these types of casualties.
I’m not saying Madigan and Democrats can’t do better, but Rauner keeps going after unions, even after he lost on multiple occasions, and it’s a nonstarter with the GA. It’s like with attacking the ACA. They’ll never stop no matter how many times they lose.
Comment by Grandson of Man Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 9:50 am
Death Spiral is exactly what this governor wants. Another polar winter will give him the literal result.
Comment by Wensicia Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 9:53 am
==@ Kitelite 9:31am — you do realize, don’t you, when you cite an Illinois Policy Institute study, you’re showing a right-wing ideological bias?==
Forget the bias for a second, and remember that “labor participation rate” has been trending down because of demographic changes. The baby boomers are retiring, more people are going to college, and there are more couples choosing to live on a single income (either because the income is high enough or child care costs are high). The labor participation rate is something that was predicted long before Ryan left office, before Blago was elected, and long before Quinn was governor. To blame demographic trends on any governor is naive.
Comment by Nickname#2 Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 10:01 am
It says something negative about Madigan and Cullerton that only the Governor cared enough to reply to the request for comment.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 10:02 am
Very poor problem evaluation in this “study”. First of all , it’s an opinion poll not an evaluation of data so it may accurately reflect reality… or may not.
There’s also a bias in the responses here that haven’t been addressed. Those answering the question have a selfish interest in overstating the problem to benefit their cause and operation. I’m not saying that’s bad, it’s just a bias in the methodology.
It’s also qualitative rather than quantitative. If one less person was given accommodation, technically you’ve “reduced services”. Whether it was necessary due to funding issues is purely subjective.
It could be like Illinois public ed polls where no matter how many resources a district has, they claim to be “underfunded”.
I’m so sick of hearing schools that pay their staff $20K per year above state average with relatively underachieving student outcomes claiming that they have “inadequate funding” to educate the kids…
Comment by Arizona Bob Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 10:07 am
Crisis = leverage, acc to rauner. He wants a shutdown, which may come in the form of a collapse, or death spiral. Because he didnt directly order it, he thinks he can convince us he isnt responsible. The repubs are complicit. The entire societal and government structure of services and public goods can sit in ruins, and the dems (not unreasonably) will never pass his agenda. Rauner owns it. When will the civic federation tell him “enough”? Is there no one he listens to?
Comment by Langhorne Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 10:09 am
Well said Langhorne!
Comment by Norseman Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 10:10 am
Isn’t it less the ‘budget impasse” and more the impact of the biggest state income tax cut in history?
Comment by Dan Johnson Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 10:11 am
To the point about people retiring, the article addresses that when it points out: “Out of all Illinois’ five neighboring states, plus Michigan, Ohio and Minnesota, Illinois is the only state that is still hitting new lows on its labor force participation rate.” The boomer trend is national, yet compared to neighbors we’re still notching awful lows.
Comment by Kitelite Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 10:16 am
“These well paid executives responding to a survey claim these occur because of the budget impasse. These are no longer charities but government contractors upset the government no longer funds them. Boo Hoo” I took that survey. I oversee an agency of 25 full time employees and a few hundred volunteers. I make well under 65k a year. Try again.
Comment by Burbling 'Burbs Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 10:21 am
@AZ- really? You could easily be the Bruce Rauner of hypocrisy here on the blog! You speak of bias, if you exercised any self awareness, you are the poster child for this. Along with ignorant, nebulous attacks on public Ed.
What does $20 k above average pay have to do with anything? First it is an average. are you suggesting that is what everyone should be paid? Why? Data, research (even biased anti- public Ed research would be a step forward for you.
I can see why you have so many failed careers.
Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 10:22 am
===Only Gov. Rauner responded,===
Goudie is such a tool. The fact is, neither Madigan nor Rauner responded. Chuck just wanted to give Rauner a wet kiss by including that meaningless string of words he sent over. Pathetic.
And I think we all know why Madigan didn’t return Chuck’s call. Too bad Goudie didn’t try calling Cullerton. He might have gotten something meaningful.
Chuck Goudie: Putting the “ME” in I-Team.
Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 10:26 am
AZ Bob:
This wasn’t a post on education and yet you have managed once again to insert your diatribe against Illinois’ education system into the conversation. Very impressive. It’s like the 6 Degrees of Kevin Bacon Game. How can AZ Bob include education funding into the conversation. It’s an interesting game to watch. And you never fail to disappoint.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 10:36 am
That was me above
Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 10:36 am
-These well paid executives responding to a survey claim these occur because of the budget impasse. These are no longer charities but government contractors upset the government no longer funds them. Boo Hoo.-
That is your response to the fact that more people are experiencing homelessness and there are not adequate services to help them? Really? I don’t even know where to being with that.
Wordslinger - “Social service agencies would be wise to put their heads together and come up with hard statewide numbers on layoffs, programs eliminated and people denied service.”
That is what the United Way tried to do in July, which was posted here. One of the issues is that nonprofits are often hesitant to share the impact because they fear it will cause a downward spiral - they are having a tough time, private donors will stop supporting, making it even worse, etc. They have been trained to put the best face on things. I am not saying this posture is good, just saying that is one of the difficulties we are facing in terms of telling the true story of the impact.
Comment by Montrose Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 10:36 am
==These are no longer charities but government contractors upset the government no longer funds them. Boo Hoo==
The state relies on a lot of these place to provide services. Apparently you are clueless to that fact. You can be flippant about the situation. But your comment only shows your lack of understanding.
Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 10:38 am
==Along with ignorant, nebulous attacks on public Ed==
That’s his schtick.
==First it is an average. are you suggesting that is what everyone should be paid==
Yes, he is. He’s against anything above average.
You are more likely to get satisfaction out of banging your head against a wall rather than try and have a rational, coherent conversation on education in Illinois with him. He’s not interested in doing so.
Sorry, I’ll get back to the topic now.
Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 10:40 am
Wiggle all you want on that hook AB, “Methodology”
“selfish interest”…I love watchin you squirm. Are you really charging those in helping professions with “selfish interest”? Are you really blaming the victims? Of course you are because you have to deny the suffering. You sir have the “selfish interest” in challenging methodology and in denying human suffering. People are suffering plain and simply because of Rauners insistance on this Turnaround agenda. The more the suffering comes to light the louder people like AB are going to deny it. It’s happening. The suffering was intentionally inflicted. Rauner admitted it would be “worth it” if it brought about “reforms”. Is it still “worth it”? You don’t look these folks in the eye Bob. I do every single day in East St. Louis Illinois. I just tried to help an elderly woman who can’t get to the doctor because the medicab is no longer taking medicaid patients because they haven’t gotten paid. NOTHING I COULD DO. Thanks Governor Rauner. And hey, don’t try saying “because Madigan”. She’s been taking medicabs for years under Madigan. People were getting care under Madigan and even Republican politicians. Nope as OW says, the governor “owns” this whether he wants to or not.
Comment by Honeybear Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 10:42 am
I’m not questioning the fact that we need to help people who are homeless nor that the State is falling down on its obligations. But I do question the fact that “An estimated population of 140,000 homeless live in shelters and tents, in parks and under expressways. More than 22,000 of the homeless are Chicago Public Schools students.” The I-Team makes it sound like there are 22,000 kids living on the streets of Chicago which is absolutely ridiculous.
The City of Chicago’s official “point in time” count conducted in January 2014 showed 965 people unsheltered and 5329 people shelters and transitional housing for a total of 6,294.
The definition for homeless students is set by the Department of Education not HUD. It includes children that are “doubled up” and not living in their own home. (And my impression is sometimes used as a way to get admission to a different school.) Based on the Point In Time report 1657 youth under 18 years old are living in shelters/transitional housing and 2 youth are living unsheltered.
One caveat is these are Point in Time numbers and the numbers increase if you count everyone who was homeless over the course of the year.
Ultimately, if we are going to address homelessness, we need real numbers and serious analysis.
Comment by Some background Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 10:42 am
Het let’s cut TeamBungle some slack here. Chuckster waited til nearly 4 p.m. to ask for comment. TeamBungle and the Cronies They Rent hardly had time to check with Meeks,Brooks et al to see waz up and report back.
Therefore ck forced to use the “everyone and everythin’ is screwed until we get out stuff that does not kick in til the 2020s”
Comment by Anonin' Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 10:42 am
@Demoralized-Totally agree. I broke a promise to myself to not acknowledge that particular troll, but just couldn’t resist this time. Back to the topic at hand……
The services that are going without support are services somebody wanted. Once you get outside of Cook County it is likely they received bi partisan support of not outright republican support. Basically- blame (for lack of a better word) cannot simply be placed on one party. And neither party wanted to raise enough revenue to pay for what they wanted. Hence the problem we have now.
Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 10:46 am
The state simply cannot afford to fund a program to deal with every imaginable human problem. So there will be cuts. And it is not enough that a program does ‘good’ - it must also fit within the state’s tax receipts.
Comment by Let'sMovetoNorthDakota Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 10:46 am
===So there will be cuts. And it is not enough that a program does ‘good’ - it must also fit within the state’s tax receipts.===
Yep.
The Rauner Cuts. Rauner will own these cuts.
Comes with the gig…
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 10:48 am
==And it is not enough that a program does ‘good’ - it must also fit within the state’s tax receipts==
Budgets are about priorities. The priorities the Governor has set out with some of his decisions are curious.
Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 10:50 am
As institutions and programs close due to state budget cuts during the past six years, the remaining service providers all are seeing increases in loads. Has there been an overall economic structural change? Not so much. Even in the recovery, most distribution of wealth is concentrated at the top. The whole theory that this disproportionate funding of the top, the “job creators,” is proving false — because these are not the people who actually create American jobs. Small business owners do. Thus this recovery is not apparently reducing homelessness.
Comment by walker Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 10:54 am
I did a bit more research, Cook County reported 1,989 sheltered homeless for their 2014 Point in Time count. I did not see the count for unsheltered.
A scary counterpoint is Los Angeles City and County reported a total 34,393 people who are homeless with 28,164 unsheltered.
Comment by Some background Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 11:05 am
The dems should have raised the minimum wage and should have made the state income tax permanent, maybe dropping it from 5% to 4.5%.
They had the power to do both.
Comment by anon Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 11:08 am
===The dems should have raised the minimum wage and should have made the state income tax permanent, maybe dropping it from 5% to 4.5%.
They had the power to do both===
What do you base this on, please be specific, and explain “who” would’ve signed needed legislation, and how it would make it through both chambers.
Thanks.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 11:10 am
==They had the power to do both.==
No, they didn’t. That’s a complete fallacy that the clueless continue to perpetuate.
Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 11:19 am
Frankly- the time has come to revisit a graduated income tax.. The 5 percent or any increase for that matter hurts the lower income brackets disproportionately. The only way to come up with sufficient revenue is a graduated income tax structure but for the sake of the State’s future if it comes to that Madigan really needs to revisit some of Rauners growth ideas.
Comment by Sue Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 11:26 am
LetsMove, you seem to be under the impression that there is a comprehensive, fiscally responsible plan being executed here.
There is not. It’s simply chaos as a political tactic.
Comment by Wordslinger Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 11:28 am
Sue- Yes yes yes, but I can’t imagine going to that in this politically poisoned nuclear winter we have entered.
Comment by Honeybear Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 11:30 am
No budget will get done as long as Bruce Rauner is holding out for his turnaround agenda, which he obviously still is.
Comment by Cheswick Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 11:31 am
Quinn, Cullerton and Madagin could have gotten the minimum wage increased and could have done as they pleased with the state income tax. Don’t be obtuse!
Comment by anon Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 11:55 am
The 4 billion is the number associated with tax increase expiring. Rauner asked for it to expire when he was elected. I guess is okay to talk goofy.
Comment by Justme Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 11:56 am
=The state simply cannot afford=
The state chooses not to fund…
Fixed that for you. It is, in fact, a choice. That is a purely monetary and not a qualitative fact.
If we look qualitatively- what do we want for our state?- the issue is more complex but still fairly clear. If we have it we have to pay for it.
If the state wants to have the services, they have to be paid for. If the state does not want to have the services then the politicians need to do some legislating to get them off the books. Then we get into the “who’s ox will be gored” deal, and the answer is that in Springfield- nobody wants their ox to get a scratch.
Right now, the state simply does not generate the revenue to pay for the services that we say we want. It is a simple math issue.
Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 11:57 am
== ”Illinois is facing a $4 billion deficit because the state’s finances were mishandled for years.” ==
As if the deficit is entirely unrelated to Governor-elect Rauner’s successful demand that most of the temporary income tax hike be allowed to expire. It is always someone else’s fault, never the foreseeable consequence of the Governor’s policies. Reduce revenues by $5 billion, and you get a $5 billion deficit, unless you slash spending by the same amount.
Comment by nona Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 11:59 am
===Quinn, Cullerton and Madagin could have gotten the minimum wage increased and could have done as they pleased with the state income tax. Don’t be obtuse!===
What do you base that on? Be specific.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 12:02 pm
Homelessness among adults and families with children, is a complicated and far reaching problem. Without an all out, coordinated effort it will continue to morph into a larger and more expensive problem. I used to volunteer in a CPS elementary school (1 of 50 closed by the Board of Ed.), where 90% of the students lived in poverty, many spoke english as a second language, and many were homeless. While they might not have been living on the streets, these homeless children lived in transient/unstable situations with whoever would take the family in, whether that be a homeless shelter, a neighbor, family member. These children attended school on a transient basis. If they were living in Uptown, they went to my school, when they moved on, they went to another school or dropped out all together. So you have a group of high risk, homeless children who attend school on a limited basis and continue to fall further and further behind and you can project how that will end up. Without significant intervention, these children and their families are doomed to failure. The fact that Illinois leaders (and I use that word loosely) chooses not to adequately address homelessness speaks volumes about their (and our) values.
Comment by Former Hoosier Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 12:25 pm
Deathspiral? Free up more resources?
Rich, your readers might find this analysis by Voices fro Illinois Children from March 16th updateworthy:
Gov. Rauner’s plan includes:
Homeless Youth shelters and services: $2.5 million to be funded – a $3.1 million (55%) cutback that would end services for 1,326 homeless youth
Supportive Housing Services: $16.17 million funded – a $14.1 million (53%) cutback that would end services to 10,311 recently homeless households
Homeless Prevention grants to families: $3 million funded – a $1 million (25%) cutback in small, one-time grants for 955 at-risk households
Emergency Shelter & Transitional Housing: $9.4 million funded – unchanged from FY 2015
- See more at: http://www.voices4kids.org/homeless-service-cutbacks-in-rauner-budget/#sthash.89fgQHvI.dpuf
Comment by Juvenal Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 12:52 pm
==Don’t be obtuse!==
Follow your own advice.
The myth of the super majority has been dispelled on this blog many times. Just because you believe it in your mind doesn’t make it true. You are looking at numbers. You, however, continue to ignore reality.
Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 12:54 pm
Demoralized - it has not been dispelled at all. There is a universe of difference between Franks refusing to vote for an admittedly phony budget and Madigan/Cullerton publicly calling the Democrats to negotiate a responsible budget amongst themselves and any GOP members willing to join them. If nothing else, it hasn’t been tested.
Comment by lake county democrat Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 1:02 pm
@JSMILL
While your posts generally validate the lack of intelligence or integrity often found in education bureaucrats, I just can’t let your hateful and libelous statement,
=I can see why you have so many failed careers.=
stand.
If you’ve got an ounce of integrity, you’ll explain to what “careers” you’re referring and what your basis for claiming “failure” in them is.
If it was just you spewing ignorant hate again, as you are wont to do, at least have the class to apologize and admit you know nothing of what you write on this blog regarding me or others with whom you disagree.
Regarding your other complaints, the point of my post was that asking bureaucrats for subjective information in regards to not getting the taxpayer funding they desire will rarely get an accurate or valid response. I used the “Illinois schools are underfunded” deception by educrats as a prime example.
If you want to debate whether schools are properly funded, educational pay is appropriate and commensurate with performance or that the Illinois education system somehow is among the best, or even “average”, in some more germaine thread, have at it.
Take off your hate blinders sometimes. You’ll be amazed by what you might see.
Comment by Arizona Bob Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 1:11 pm
@anonymous
=How can AZ Bob include education funding into the conversation.=
The subject of the post was not taking subjective claims from government bureaucrats who have a bias to claim that giving them less money is hurting others. If you have a better example of that than the deception of “underfunded” education in Illinois from Illinois educrats. I’d love to see it.
Comment by Arizona Bob Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 1:15 pm
Yep, good data pull Juvie. Darth Arduin sowed her seeds early. No need for her to stick around to see them come to fruition.
Comment by Honeybear Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 1:15 pm
@ Dem
I know I shouldn’t feed ignorant trolls but if you’ve got ANY posted validation of your nonsensical claim that, =Yes, he is. He’s against anything above average.=, make it.
If you learn to read, you’ll find that I have a problem with paying above average for less than average values and results.
I know that comparing value and cost is something foreign to your bureaucratic mindset, but at least don’t make dishonest, personal posts attacking others who do.
Comment by Arizona Bob Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 1:18 pm
- lake county democrat -,
Ok, so to the political…
Given the landscape, in Springfield, the incoming governor, and even before, the 2014 fall and veto session, walk me through…
… minimum wage and not letting the income tax sunset.
Be specific.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 1:19 pm
Wow. Calling people ignorant. Didn’t you just scold somebody for their hate? Hmmm. Arrogant as always Bob.
I’ll concede the point. I only have evidence that you are against anything that isn’t average as it relates to education funding. Striving to be average. What a goal.
As an aside, I’ve asked and never received an answer from you as to how you think reducing education spending will make things all better. If you truly believe that then you shouldn’t have a problem explaining how reducing expenditures will all of a sudden make the system all better.
Finally, I’ll take my 18 years of experience in the work I do and say with certainty it makes me an expert in what I do. If I have an engineering question, I’ll defer to your expertise. I think I’ll defer to my own when it comes to cost/benefit analysis.
Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 1:28 pm
My daughter just lost her job-she worked at a domestic abuse/homeless shelter. All the clients were told 2 week prior to closing they would have to make other arrangements. Of course, several of them had no other options, and now sleep outside. My daughter filed for unemployment for the first time. And as soon as the budget passes, the shelter will reopen, because they have been told the money is listed in the budget. (I just hope they are telling the truth about that!) Everyone who worked at the shelter filed for unemployment, and this helps our government How?
Comment by Trish Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 1:38 pm
@Dem
As an aside, I’ve asked and never received an answer from you as to how you think reducing education spending will make things all better. If you truly believe that then you shouldn’t have a problem explaining how reducing expenditures will all of a sudden make the system all better=
Check out the string where you asked the question the other day. I gave a response and example in a post this morning.
Comment by Arizona Bob Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 1:45 pm
@Trish
=My daughter just lost her job-she worked at a domestic abuse/homeless shelter.=
Trish, creating a government grant driven shelter bureaucracy is typically a mistake.
For years my wife and I volunteered for the South Suburban crisis center, and it really went downhill after they got large government funding, and ever lower percentages of the revenues got to services for those in the shelter. They started hiring “development directors” and put all sorts of people on the payroll, usually with political connections.
My wifes an RN and when it was volunteer run she helped assess health issues and referred people to medical care when indicated. It worked well.
When it became “big money” they told her to clean the residents toilets and do their wash because the residents didn’t care to make the effort to help out. That didn’t last too long.
We used to help out with the clerical work too, but when they became “big time” they hired a bunch of people for this.
My personal opinion is that having people who care enough to give of themselves are the best way to address these problems, not create a costly government bureaucracy. If your too big for volunteers, perhaps you’re too big and should have smaller, more community based volunteer organizations.
Just my two cents worth…
I hope your daughter finds work soon
Comment by Arizona Bob Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 1:57 pm
Trish, I’m so sorry to hear about your daughter. Tell her to hold her head high. She may not feel valued by our States’ leaders or some of her fellow citizens but to those she serves there is no greater hero. That is what she is, a hero. So chin up Trishdottir, shieldmaiden of the abused and homeless, chin up.
Comment by Honeybear Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 2:23 pm
Lake County Democrat:
I am not sure if you are just a bot or really that uninformed.
Even if there was a super-majority in the General Assembly for a tax hike that could override the governor’s veto, they can’t force him to spend the money.
It is an argument without a point.
Comment by Juvenal Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 2:24 pm
AB- as they say in my East St. Louis office,
“you just can’t get you no get right”
Comment by Honeybear Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 2:35 pm
The weather is still decent. A month from now, that will be changing. If homelessness continues to increase, things that the governor might describe as “unfortunate” might start happening to those homeless people. When we make it on the national evening news, they will blame it on the lasting stalemate in the summer and the fall. Who will they go to for commentary? The governor. How is it going to sound to America when you blame it on Madigan? Yours is the name and face they’ll remember and be reminded of that you think dying homeless is “unfortunate”.
Comment by Aldyth Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 3:00 pm
Well, as long as we’re on the subject of homelessness, there are other factors affecting the numbers, many having to do with a chaotic housing policy in this and many states, not to mention the Fed. Even if you don’t live in San Francisco or NYC, rents are going up, at least partly because it is harder for people to get mortgages since the crash so more pressure on the rental market. Developers seem to be targeting the luxury market-another sign of income inequality. Also, millenials are postponing household formation, pretty rational, again, after the crash. Restoring funding to these programs, which is apparently expected to happen eventually, isn’t going to solve the problems caused by a patchwork approach to affordable housing.
Comment by Cassandra Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 3:43 pm
@honeybear
=“you just can’t get you no get right”=
Translation into English, please?
Comment by Arizona Bob Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 3:49 pm
Oh jeez Bob. Can you at least point me to the day? My memory stinks (my wife doesn’t believe me though).
Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 4:15 pm
@Arizona Bob,
The shelter my daughter worked at is way down in southern Illinois - as far as she could tell, getting a job there had nothing to do with political connections. (I know she didn’t have any!) Also, the clients were expected to do a lot of the work - laundry, cleaning restrooms and community areas along with their own private rooms. They’ve never had a lot of “big” money, Southern Illinois never seems to see the money that Chicago down to Springfield does. They managed to stay open longer than most of the shelters in Southern Illinois because of all the good people who tried their best to keep it open as long as they could. I know some of the employees worked more hours than they were paid for, just to help keep it up and running. There were a lot of tears when they had to turn their client out, and I know my daughter still worries about the ones she knows had no place to go.
Comment by Trish Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 4:19 pm
==What do you base that on? Be specific.==
Really? Rich and many others have explained.
==Even so, Speaker Madigan himself shares in the blame here. Yes, he’s not all-powerful, but he probably could’ve passed a minimum wage bill during the spring session. Instead, he didn’t want to rile up business groups before an election and believed he could use the issue to fire up his party’s base and the unions in the November election. == That’s Mike Madigan: Use an issue for political advantage rather than pass it into law. And he’ll likely use the minimum wage issue again next year, perhaps by passing a bill that he knows will be vetoed by a Gov. Rauner. He can also use the issue to keep organized labor focused on that topic and away from other stuff that Madigan might oppose (like an electronic trading transaction tax, for instance). Business groups will also be frozen in place in opposition to a minimum wage threat.
But the blame doesn’t end there, of course. As I told you months ago, Gov. Pat Quinn and US Sen. Dick Durbin didn’t want Chicago to pass a $13 an hour minimum wage ordinance before the election, believing it would undermine their attempt to gin up the city’s vote for the statewide $10 an hour minimum wage referendum. Politically, this made some sense at the time. Why would any Chicagoan bother to vote for a $10 an hour minimum wage when it had already been raised to $13? In reality, though, the minimum wage referendum didn’t work as planned. And instead of a statewide attempt to partially catch up with Chicago’s minimum wage during veto session, the whole effort fizzled.==
Comment by Formerly Known As... Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 4:30 pm
==It’s pretty obvious from the press release that the governor fully intends to use this issue as much as he can in the upcoming campaign==
==Sneed hears that powerful Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan’s decision Wednesday not to call the state’s minimum wage bill during this week’s veto session — which Quinn wanted big-time — was intended to do Mayor Rahm Emanuel a favor.==
The Speaker even admits it as much as he can https://capitolfax.com/2015/08/07/madigan-rauner-didnt-win-quinn-lost/
Comment by Formerly Known As... Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 4:39 pm
“You can’t get you no get right”
“get right” is redemption, or to do the right thing. Thus you can’t help it. “You can’t get you no” You are trying but you can’t find redemption. You are troll-like by nature. Sympathetic/Empathetic statements aren’t “in your wheelhouse”. They aren’t in your nature. Your post to Trish was not helpful which prompted me to say, “you can’t get you no get right”. Trish was being a saint in her response to you.
Comment by Honeybear Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 4:53 pm
- FKA -,
So the politics dictated that it wouldn’t happen, including Rahm Emanuel?
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 5:32 pm
@Oswego Willy - no. Pat Quinn and Mike Madigan concluding (incorrectly) that not passing a minimum wage increase would get Pat Quinn some extra votes was politics.
Pat Quinn and Mike Madigan refusing for months to allow a vote in the House on a minimum wage increase, a vote that passed many times in the last ten years and would have passed again, was obstruction and manipulation. They also deprived minimum wage employees of $ by preventing an increase in wages that would have been effective months ago.
Greed and personal edacity dictated that it wouldn’t happen. Not politics.
Comment by Formerly Known As... Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 7:37 pm
- Formerly Known As… -,
=Sneed hears that powerful Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan’s decision Wednesday not to call the state’s minimum wage bill during this week’s veto session — which Quinn wanted big-time — was intended to do Mayor Rahm Emanuel a favor.==
Then why pull this out?
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 8:56 pm
==in shelters and tents, in parks and under expressways==
So cast-off DCFS wards will have a variety of housing options.
Comment by Anon Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 10:36 pm
From the Daily Herald http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20150909/news/150908879/
Article titled “Townships collect tax money to help needy, but most goes to salaries, overhead”
This is germane to the subject at hand, I was surprised Rich didn’t make this the subject of a post (sorry in advance if you intended to cover it tomorrow!). Inefficiency, thy name is Illinois. Anybody know the overall ratio of dollars appropriated to dollars delivered in the state?
Comment by Tom K. Thursday, Sep 10, 15 @ 10:45 pm
@DEm
I believe the thread in which you made the challenge was Wednesday. I responded in that string.
Comment by Arizona Bob Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 7:59 am
@Dem
Here’s the case were you’re falsely claiming that I believe that everyone should just get an average salary.
==First it is an average. are you suggesting that is what everyone should be paid==
Yes, he is. He’s against anything above average.=
That’s something you made up. Once again, I’ll be looking for your donation to IPI.
Comment by Arizona Bob Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 8:07 am
@Trish
It sounds like your organization is a good, caring one. I suppose that those now not working are volunteering to help out until they can find employment, correct?
Comment by Arizona Bob Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 8:10 am
Trish I am sorry for your daughter losing her job. I too run a shelter. We serve over 350 people per year! This includes families, children, Veterans, the elderly. We also have a soup kitchen, a food pantry, a transitional house and an emergency assistance program. We are struggling because of the state budget impasse. AND DEAR ARIZONA BOB—-we do take volunteers and no one here is getting rich. All my employees including myself live paycheck to paycheck. Three of my employees were formerly homeless and one of our board members. Only 1/5 of our budget comes from the state and over 1/2 of our budget comes from our community. So before you start throwing stones….we don’t all belong in the same basket!
Comment by GoodSam Tuesday, Sep 22, 15 @ 12:12 pm