Budget impasse brutal to service providers

As we begin the third month of a budget impasse in Springfield, United Way of Lake County would like to call our state leaders' attention to the very real disruption the delays are having on citizens in need of services and the agencies that deliver those services.

United Way of Illinois, the statewide association of 52 local United Ways recently surveyed human service organizations across the state regarding the steps they are taking to deliver programs and services in light of the budget stalemate. More than 400 human service agencies responded to the survey. The agencies represented every county in Illinois, and 34 percent of agencies reported already cutting the number of clients they serve.

Education and job training programs were among the areas suffering the greatest reduction in the number of clients served.

In Lake County nonprofit agencies are laying off mental health counselors, a women's shelter is reducing staff that work with women and children fleeing abuse, and one child care agency has already closed, impacting dozens of working families - and there could be more in the very near future.

While reductions in services come as no surprise during this period of uncertainty, the fiscal impact of the budget impasse is alarming. Already, 39 percent of agencies have tapped into cash reserves to maintain operations and 19 percent reported that they will deplete their cash reserves by the end of August.

The survey found that four out of 10 agencies have less than three months of cash on hand. United Way invites you to join us in urging our elected officials to take immediate action on the budget to remedy the disruptions and operational uncertainty for human service providers.

Kristi Long, President and CEO

United Way of Lake County