Money woes will force group home to close

HIGHLAND -- The head of a non-profit operator of group homes for developmentally disabled adults says cuts in the Illinois Department of Human Services budget will force the closing of a group home in Highland.

John Foppe, the executive director of Community Link, said the home's closure will mean the elimination of three full-time jobs and force the five residents to move to other group homes run by Community Link.

Foppe said Thursday the Highland group home will close down before December 31. Its residents and employees were given the news Wednesday.

In addition to cuts in its budget, Foppe said the Human Services Department has a new disbursement system the agency launched that dramatically slows down reimbursements.

Foppe said the payment system has saddled Community Link with more than $1.1 million in unpaid bills owed by the state. As a result, the organization has exhausted its credit line.