Illinoisans have been lulled into thinking that once the current budget stalemate is resolved, social services will be funded. But, as detailed in this week’s cover story by Patrick Yeagle, the social services cuts proposed in Gov. Bruce Rauner’s budget threaten to do more long-term damage than the current impasse. Defunding social services will affect everyone, whether they use those services or not. For example, cutting back on community mental health programs that keep the mentally ill stable and functioning well increases the risk of hospitalizations, at more expense. “When you look at any one program, you can say, ‘Well that’s just one program,’” said Dr. Stephen Soltys of SIU School of Medicine. “But when you start looking at all of the others, you start seeing a social safety net – which everyone benefits from – falling apart.” –Fletcher Farrar, editor and publisher
This article appears in Aug 13-19, 2015.
