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.