Facts

Some Facts You Need to Know

Our State Institutions have a proven record of providing negligent services that have placed people at great harm and often times resulting at death. These sub-standard services currently provided to 2,156 people come at a very high cost. The average annual cost per resident in a State Institution is $168,656. The average annual cost per person served in a 24-hour supervised community based setting is near $50,000. [Data source: Don Moss and Associates, 2/2011]

If the State of Illinois made a commitment today to place its 2,156 citizens residing in state-run institutions into community settings, there would be an estimated $200 million savings.

Community services are in the line of fire for draconian cuts beginning July 1, 2011. There are more than 20,862 people waiting for community services. 14,757 people have an emergency or critical need today! [Data Source: March 7, 2011 DHS PUNS Summary]

The State of Illinois is positioning their nine state-run institutions (huge segregated facilities) as the only viable option of supports for people with disabilities. Starting in July 2011, these facilities get a $30M increase because of a signed labor/union agreement with the Governor’s office. This agreement includes a 14.5% increase in wages over a set period of time and no reductions in staff. There is no one waiting to move into a state-institution, there are only people waiting to move out. In fact, the overall census is projected to drop.

Nationally, Illinois continues to rank in the top 5 for the number of people living in state run institutions, all the while being ranked near the very bottom of all of the states in the amount of funding provided for community services.

Over the last decade the State of Illinois has cut its investment in various community human services collectively by more than $4.4 Billion. None of the other core service areas (i.e. education, healthcare, public safety) have experienced cuts of that magnitude.

These facts are alarming. And now is the time to do something about it.

You can become a Partner for a Solution. Right here. Right now.

Let us know you want to stand with us and be a Partner for the Solution by clicking here.

Let your voice for change be heard. Call or write the Governor, your State Representative and State Senator, today!

Governor’s Office: 312-814-2121