Fox Illinois
February 17, 2011
By Diane S.W. Lee Illinois Statehouse News
From Fox Illinois:
SPRINGFIELD — A move by Gov. Pat Quinn to cut funding to social service programs will leave troubled youth “to fend for themselves” if his call for “budget restraint” is answered.
Percy Dace, 61, who counsels “troubled Youth” in the East St. Louis area, said he is concerned that Quinn’s proposal to eliminate funding for community youth services programs under the Department of Human Services will put his Lessie Bates Davis Neighborhood House on the chopping block.
Dace, 61, says in his past he was a “challenging young man” who got into fights and barely made it out of high school.
“From my personal perspective, what I have achieved in life is because I was able to get assistance (from someone) who had level of expertise to guide me and even mentor me to be a productive member of society,” Dace said.
The Lessie Bates Davis Neighborhood House works with more than 650 families in East St. Louis, providing daycare and youth homeless- and teen-outreach services.
Quinn called for “budget restraint” in his proposed budget address to lawmakers on Wednesday by “finding new ways to reduce unnecessary state spending.” Quinn proposed cutting an annual $550 million to nursing homes and hospitals by reducing Medicaid reimbursement rates for the poor.
The proposal is for fiscal year 2012, which begins July 1 ends June 30, 2012. Lawmakers have until May to determine how much of the budget cuts become reality.
“We need to keep investing in essential, necessary services while cutting programs that don’t work,” Quinn said in his speech.