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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION 413

 
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 State
20 and local governments as well as the private sector; and
 
21     WHEREAS, This creates the need for coordination and
22 planning in the allocation of resources and in the design and
23 implementation of new programs to serve the homeless; the
24 General Assembly finds that there is a need for a single entity
25 to coordinate these efforts; therefore be it
 
26     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
27 NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
28 the Illinois Department of Human Services consider the
29 feasibility of creating a State Advocacy Program for the

 

 

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

 

 

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1 the Secretary of Human Services.