093_HR0413
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1 HOUSE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3 Representatives are concerned that a disproportionate number
4 of people in this State are unable to secure housing for
5 themselves and their families and are forced to live in the
6 streets without shelter or in emergency shelters; and
7 WHEREAS, A substantial number of the homeless population
8 are mentally ill or developmentally disabled; these homeless
9 people are more readily subjected to abuse; and
10 WHEREAS, Despite current public and private efforts, the
11 homeless problem in this State is a critical threat to the
12 health, safety, and welfare of many people and communities
13 across the State; and
14 WHEREAS, It is in the public interest that the General
15 Assembly take immediate and necessary action to ensure a more
16 adequate response to the needs of homeless people; and
17 WHEREAS, The General Assembly also acknowledges that the
18 complex problem of homelessness in this State is being
19 addressed by a rapidly growing range of services from the
20 State and local governments as well as the private sector;
21 and
22 WHEREAS, This creates the need for coordination and
23 planning in the allocation of resources and in the design and
24 implementation of new programs to serve the homeless; the
25 General Assemble finds that there is a need for a single
26 entity to coordinate these efforts; therefore be it
27 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
28 NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
29 there is created a task force on the State Advocacy Program
30 for the Homeless Mentally Ill and Developmentally Disabled
31 under the Department of Human Services; and be it further
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1 RESOLVED, That the task force shall be composed of 7
2 members appointed as follows: 3 members of the House of
3 Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of
4 Representatives, one of whom shall be designated the
5 chairperson by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, 2
6 members of the House of Representatives appointed by the
7 Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, and 2
8 members appointed by the Governor representing the Department
9 of Human Services, all of whom shall serve without
10 compensation but shall be reimbursed for their reasonable and
11 necessary expenses from funds appropriated for that purpose;
12 and be it further
13 RESOLVED, That the members of the task force shall be
14 charged with, but not limited to, the following duties and
15 responsibilities:
16 (1) Determine the need and cost of creating a staff
17 advocacy position within the Bureau of Homeless Services
18 and Supportive Services of the Department of Human
19 Services that will promote and facilitate the development
20 of community-based support systems to protect the health,
21 safety, welfare, and human and civil rights of homeless
22 individuals with mental illness or developmental
23 disabilities and that will develop and implement programs
24 to carry out those goals;
25 (2) Initiate requests for proposals or continued
26 funding forms for the establishment or expansion of
27 nonprofit agencies and organizations that will be
28 responsible for developing or coordinating comprehensive
29 and integrated community-based support systems for
30 homeless individuals with mental illness or developmental
31 disabilities;
32 (3) Develop a model plan under which (i) assistance
33 may be provided to homeless persons for maintaining
34 sources of income, food, clothing, health care,
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1 counseling, training, and employment and for maintaining
2 a stable living environment; and (ii) individualized
3 service plans for homeless persons may be implemented;
4 (4) Explore the provisions of the Mental Health and
5 Developmental Disabilities Code in relation to homeless
6 individuals with mental illnesses or developmental
7 disabilities who refuse services for themselves and
8 recommend plans for aiding these individuals; and
9 (5) Propose necessary grants-in-aid for entities
10 that provide services for homeless individuals with
11 mental illness or developmental disabilities and develop
12 requirements for the publication of criteria for the
13 proposals for determining eligible services and the
14 amount of grants-in aid programs available; and be it
15 further
16 RESOLVED, That the task force shall receive the
17 assistance of legislative staff, may employ skilled experts
18 with the approval of the Speaker of the House of
19 Representatives, and shall report its findings to the General
20 Assembly on or before March 31, 2004.