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Wednesday, February 20, 2013

IMPORTANT - Illinois Home Care Services - help avert crisis Feb 2013

Below are requests for assistance from Access Living of Chicago and Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities in Illinois (CCDI);
Please forward this information, we all can make a difference... Jim at Ability Chicago.
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Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities in Illinois (CCDI)
Action Needed for Home Services
Illinois in-home services are at risk

Illinois in-home services are at risk.

One of the most critical issues for thousands of people with disabilities and seniors in Illinois is in-home services for activities of daily living like eating, bathing, cooking, cleaning, and toileting. The State of Illinois provides two programs that fill this need: the Home Services Program (HSP, for younger adults) and the Community Care Program (CCP, for seniors). Please take immediate action to prevent the failure of these programs, which will significantly impact people with disabilities and seniors. Loss of these programs will also cause the loss of jobs for home care workers.

This issue is important because home services are part of what allow us to live independently. Millions of people nationwide need home services and provide home services. Community living matters!

The Home Services Program needs about $25 million in supplemental funding to finish out FY 2013. The Community Care Program needs $315 million in supplemental funding ($170 million for back bills & $140 million for current program spending) to finish out FY 2013. Although our state is in a massive budget crisis, we have to make sure that people who need home services are not forced to go without critical supports for activities of daily living like bathing, eating and dressing.

Please take action below, if you are seeing this on our website, or at http://www.capwiz.com/ccdionline/issues/?style=D.

Act now in support of in-home services. http://www.ccdionline.org/

Thanks to our friends at Access Living for the information.
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Access Living of Chicago
Home Services Crisis! Action Needed!
Illinois home services continue to be at risk of severe cutbacks! The Home Services Program (HSP) and the Community Care Program (CCP) need millions of dollars to finish out the year ending June 30, 2013. If HSP and CCP experience major cutbacks, seniors and people with disabilities will not be able to get help for activities of daily living, and home services workers could lose jobs. HSP and CCP save critical dollars for Illinois because they prevent thousands of people from having to go into nursing homes and institutions. CCP serves seniors and HSP serves people with disabilities who are not seniors.

We need your help to ask Illinois legislators to file and pass a supplemental spending bill for HSP and CCP in the amount of $340 million. This would allow both programs to finish the year without cuts, and also address over $100 million needed in back payments to CCP providers.

People with disabilities, seniors, and workers need to know that our home and community-based services network will be safe and secure. Imagine not being able to call on someone to help you get out of bed, eat, bathe and dress. This takes away your independence and your motivation. Home services are CRITICAL for the people of Illinois. Take action today!

Please visit Access Living 'Advocacy' webpage, go to 'Illinois - Home Services Crisis! Action Needed!' and send a email to your Elected Officials :
http://capwiz.com/accessliving/issues/?style=D&

Keep Up the Fight, Keep Up the Strength!

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