I was out on the west side of Chicago today where I had the opportunity to visit Habilitative Systems Inc., (HSI) and its president/CEO for the past twenty-one years, Donald Dew. Donald ranks amongst the top social work leaders in our state. In an ever challenging fiscal reality, Donald and HSI continue to rise to the occasion by providing quality services and fighting for continued funding for vital human services in the state.
HSI is a multi-faceted human service agency that plays a substantial role in the articulation, development and delivery of programs and services to improve the quality of life in the city of Chicago. HSI helps thousands of individuals and families through the community-based programs offered through four integrated care centers: Behavioral Health Services, Children and Family Services, Disability Management Services, and Residential Services.
You may remember on Advocacy Day this past February, I participated in a press conference convened by the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability (CTBA) announcing the release of their study chronicling the state’s waning support for human services entitled, Illinois State Funding for Human Services in Context. The study notes the underfunding of human services in the state of Illinois by $4.4 billion from FY02 through FY10. Donald was one of the speakers at that news conference, emphasizing the important role that human service organizations play in employment in communities around the state.
HSI is one of the largest human service employers on Chicago’s west side and operates fifty programs in fifteen west side locations, employing over 200 people. I had the opportunity to visit two of its programs with Donald today. The first of these program, the Elois McCoy Village Apartments, is a sixty unit housing facility for elderly persons in need of affordable supportive living arrangements. It is located on a block square lot across the street from the organization's main facility at 415 South Kilpatrick. Funding for this project was obtained from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Chicago Department of Housing, and the Community Bank of Lawndale.
The second of these programs, the Robert LeFlore House, is one of five newly constructed 811 houses for persons with disabilities. These units provide additional housing for this population and allow for placement in both a community-based and lesser restrictive environment. The project is funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
There is still no resolution of the FY11 Illinois state budget crisis as legislators left Springfield late Friday with no resolution to our astronomical $13 billion debt. As many of you know, the chapter has been advocating for a tax increase to help fund Illinois human services, education, health, and safety. Legislators will be back in their district offices for the next one to two weeks. So a call or even a visit your state representative or state senator in the district. Finally, check the latest report from the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability about Illinois being one of the lowest spending states in the nation.
