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HOUSE RESOLUTION 413


 

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    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
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Representatives are concerned
that a disproportionate number 
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of people in this State are unable to secure
housing for

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themselves and their families and are forced to live in the 
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streets
without shelter or in
emergency shelters; and

 

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    WHEREAS, A substantial number of the homeless population 
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are mentally ill or
developmentally disabled; these homeless 
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people are more readily subjected to
abuse;
and

 

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    WHEREAS, Despite current public and private efforts, the 
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homeless problem in
this State is a critical threat to the 
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health, safety, and welfare of many
people and
communities 
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across the State; and

 

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    WHEREAS, It is in the public interest that the General 
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Assembly take
immediate
and necessary action to ensure a more 
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adequate response to the needs of
homeless people;
and

 

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    WHEREAS, The General Assembly also acknowledges that the 
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complex problem
of homelessness in this State is being 
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addressed by a rapidly growing range of
services
from the State 
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and local governments as well as the private sector; and

 

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    WHEREAS, This creates the need for coordination and 
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planning in the
allocation
of resources and in the design and 
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implementation of new programs to serve the
homeless; the 
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General Assembly finds that there is a need for a single entity

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to coordinate
these efforts; therefore be it

 

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    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
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the Illinois Department of Human Services consider the 
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feasibility of creating a State Advocacy Program for the 
 


 






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Homeless Mentally Ill and Developmentally Disabled; and be it 
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further
 
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RESOLVED, That if a State Advocacy Program for the 
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Homeless Mentally Ill and Developmentally Disabled is created 
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by the Department of Human Services, it should be established 
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within the Bureau of Homeless Services and Supportive Housing 
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and that its duties include at least the following:
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    (1) promote and facilitate the development of 
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community-based support systems to protect the health, safety, 
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welfare, and civil rights of homeless individuals with mental 
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illness or developmental disabilities;
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    (2) assist in the development and implementation of 
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programs under a coordinated, comprehensive, and integrated 
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community-based support system for these individuals;
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    (3) develop a plan providing assistance to homeless 
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persons, including financial aid, food, clothing, health care, 
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counseling, training, and employment services that may enable 
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the person to become self-sufficient in a stable living 
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environment;
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    (4) provide assistance through individualized service 
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plans; and
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    (5) identify and secure sources of funding for the services 
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for homeless individuals with mental illness or developmental 
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disabilities and assist in the development of criteria, 
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standards, and procedures for allocating those resources in the 
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most effective manner possible; and be it further
 
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RESOLVED, That the Department of Human Services report to 
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the Governor and the General Assembly by January 1, 2005 
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regarding its determination of the feasibility of creating the 
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State Advocacy Program of the Homeless Mentally Ill and 
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Developmentally Disabled,  together with a plan for 
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implementation if applicable; and be it further
 
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RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be provided to 
 


 






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the Secretary of Human Services.