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Illinois' House of Representatives is going into session and are likely to vote on bills that will allow for restoration of $300-$400 million of the $1.4 billion in budget vetoes made by Governor Blagojevich to balance this year's state budget.

Please ask your State Representative to support restoration of $4 million vetoed from the Supportive MI (Mental Illness) Housing line item of the state budget. This line item will fund social services in 769 units of new supportive housing that will serve over 900 homeless men, women, and children and/or people who have mental illness or other special needs.

Supportive housing providers provide case management, which includes life skills training and linkages to other needed services, such as physical and mental health services, substance abuse treatment and support, and employment services.

Restoring funding to this line item is important because supportive housing:
• Ends the expensive cycle of homelessness.
• Helps people with mental illness, giving both independence and support.
• Helps people stay or become clean and sober.
• Allows those who are able to secure jobs and rejoin the tax rolls.

Supportive housing costs the state less per person per year than institutional care, state mental health facilities, or prison.

These 769 units leverage at least 5 times the $4 million in state funds, or over $20 million in federal funding, and an additional $600,000 will be returned to Illinois in federal Medicaid reimbursement funding.

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Your State Representative

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