Who: Rockford clergy, community and homeless advocates
What: State budget protest and prayer vigil in front of Winnebago County Jail
When: Tuesday, June 23, at 7 p.m.
Where: Winnebago County Jail at the corner of S. State and W. Winnebago streets
On Tuesday, clergy, homeless and community advocates from churches and organizations in Rockford and Boone County will hold a prayer vigil to protest the lack of a state budget, and the impact it will have on homeless and social service programs in Winnebago and Boone Counties. They were organized with help from the CCH Statewide Network, led by organizer Jim Picchetti.
On July 1, if a budget resolution is not agreed on by the Governor and the General Assembly, all agencies receiving state funds will have either their payments greatly delayed or suspended as a result of a state government shutdown.
“Even before July 1, we have had to let staff go and reduce the hours for others. If the budget is not resolved, then our vendors, the people we owe, can’t get paid. We can fundraise, but when every non-profit in Rockford and Illinois is asking for more donations, there is only so much funding out there,” said Sarah Parker-Scanlon, Director of Family Programming at Shelter Care Ministries.
In FY 2014, Shelter Care Ministries provided shelter and stable housing to 1,354 adults and families in Rockford. 585 were parents and children, and 731 were adults with psychiatric disabilities.