The State is ready to adopt a budget that would cut all social services in Illinois by 50%.

What that means is that in Illinois, we will cripple services for:

• Homeless families.
• Individuals with developmental disabilities.
• Rape victims.
• Domestic violence victims.
• Elderly individuals.
• Disabled persons.
• Mentally ill persons.
• Other families and individuals who are struggling.

Just in Aurora alone, the only domestic violence shelter (Mutual Ground) will be shutting down their shelter if the cuts go through. As of July 1, the 30 women and children sheltered there will have to go to the only emergency shelter (PADS at Hesed House) which already has as many as 60 people sleeping in chairs every night because it is over capacity – AND will be experiencing its own cuts in funding and services.

And that doesn't even include the damage done to the elderly, or the disabled, or the mentally ill or those with developmental disabilities.

The damage that will be done to families in crisis is devastating.

Please tell your legislators: "We can't balance the budget on the backs of Illinois' most vulnerable citizens. Please pass a budget that restores funding to social services."

Please contact the following:

• Your State Representative (see below on locating him or her). Make sure you tell him/her that you are a constituent.
• Your State Senator (see below on locating her or him). Make sure you tell her/him that you are a constituent.
• Speaker of the House Michael Madigan – Phone 217–782–5350, Fax 217–524–1794
• Senate President John Cullerton – Phone 773–883–0770, Fax 773–296–0993
• Governor Pat Quinn – Phone 217–782–6830, Fax 217–524–4049

* Not sure who your state legislators are? Go to http://www.elections.state.il.us/DistrictLocator/SelectSearchType.aspx?NavLink=1. Click "by address". Type in your address. Click "Search". Click on the names of your STATE senator and your STATE representative (the second and third names on the list). Their contact information will come up.

The only chance we have of the Illinois legislature not crippling these services and devastating the lives of people already hurting is to drown them in phone calls and faxes.

Again, please pass this message on to EVERYONE you know who lives in Illinois.