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Rape crisis center running on fumes

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Illinois

A social service agency known to many on [the EIU] campus is facing hardships because of the current budget impasse in the Illinois government. The Sexual Assault Counseling and Information Service relies heavily on state funding and without knowing the budget, the agency is sorting out their next steps.

This is the first time the agency has been faced with a threat of future closing.

Erin Walters, the executive director of SACIS, said the non-profit rape crisis center offers free and confidential services to those impacted by sexual violence. She said SACIS runs off of federal funds supporting their services, including grants. Walters said the agency has used up all their reserved funds to carry them along and that the state is supposed to reimburse them for their expenses.

Right now, the state has not given SACIS their reimbursement payments so SACIS has been running their reserved funds and taken out a loan to keep their services going. Without the federal dollars the agency would be close. […]

Walters said she does not see SACIS having any additional resources to support the services beyond December. She is working with the board of directors to determine if there are steps to take so they can make small changes to avoid closure.

Hat tip: IllinoisGO (believe it or not).

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 3:33 pm

Comments

Ms. Walters,

Don’t worry, You’re just a useful political wedge right now. Its hard for you to see it but this pain will make Illinois great again.

Im hard at work complaining about bills that take me 57 days to sign and sending dead fish to my negotiating partners.

Again, I don’t expect your liberal mind to understand this but this is part of a grand plan.

Bruce

Comment by Abe the Babe Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 3:45 pm
You’re posting a lot today…so maybe you’re feeling better? It is rough to have a cold. We’ve all been there.

Comment by Belle Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 3:45 pm
I’m posting a lot because there’s a lot to post. I’m a tiny bit better.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 3:46 pm
Times 100.

Immediate damage imminent.

What if they and those like them providing all kinds of services, food, other direct support, etc. all close? And if major and small projects stop at whatever phase they’re in? And more vendors start refusing to support government entities until they’re paid? It just gets worse as the weeks go on. Will we reach a point soon where we will not be able to recover significant pieces for months or years even after the budget is agreed?

Comment by walker Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 3:48 pm
==I’m posting a lot because there’s a lot to post.==

By the way Rich, and without revealing more than you want to, how have your unique visitor numbers been since early January? I gotta bet they are doing pretty well.

Comment by Abe the Babe Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 3:51 pm
Accelerated descent.

Comment by Demise Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 4:29 pm
SACIS reports serving almost 700 victims and their families in 2014.
The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority reports that in 2014 there were 3 arrests in Coles County for criminal sexual assault.
Criminal sexual assualt is an underreported crime for a host of very sad and tragic reasons, but can two state supported agencies really have such widely varying statistics related to this issue?

Comment by Skyline Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 4:31 pm
Unfortunately, Skyline, yes. The bad guys rarely get arrested, much less convicted for their crime.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 4:42 pm
assault may not have happened in that county, plus, schools especially have all sorts of issues with non reporting and bad resolution of cases, in addition to lower reporting of the crime. family and friend relationships move one to medical and psych attention but perhaps not to the law.

Comment by Amalia Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 4:57 pm
Soon, Rich will be posting 10 of these per day, then 15, then 25, then 50, then shortly none; won’t be any left.

Comment by sal-says Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 5:01 pm
==Will we reach a point soon where we will not be able to recover significant pieces for months or years even after the budget is agreed?==

And when we do need to pick up the pieces, will Bruce be willing to put in the heavy lifting to put things right, whether he achieves his goals or not?

Comment by Timmeh Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 5:01 pm