Speaking for the most vulnerable

Clients Sebert Larson (from left), Mary Beth Lange and Charlotte Enghramand, supporters of Gateway Services of Princeton and other social service organizations react with smiles and cheers as CEO Jeff Dean leads them in a cheer at the end of Thursday’s rally, held on the Bureau County Courthouse lawn. More than 200 people attended the rally, which was organized to protest more than $9 billion in proposed cuts to a wide variety of state services. (BCR photo/Barb Kromphardt)

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PRINCETON — They came to the lawn outside the Bureau County Courthouse Thursday, determined to make their voices heard.

They came on foot and in wheelchairs, clutching umbrellas or plastic bags for protection against the threatening skies.

They came to speak, or to let others speak for them.

“We are being held hostage for the sake of political machinations of other people,” said Jeff Dean, president/CEO of Gateway Services in Princeton. “And we need to tell them that it’s time to stop.”

More than 200 people gathered at the courthouse to protest the proposed state budget cuts in the Department of Human Services. The proposed budget would cut community- and state-provided services by nearly $10 billion, taking away support in a wide variety of areas including people with disabilities, childcare assistance, domestic violence services, addiction treatment, foster care, senior care, Circuit Breaker, college scholarships, vaccines and breast cancer screenings.

“You do not know one person that isn’t affected somehow or another by the cuts in this state, and you — that can speak up for yourself, and those of us that can speak up for those who can’t — need to let them know that this is unacceptable, and it cannot stand,” Dean said to cheers and applause from the audience.

Dean said the people had the power to change the situation.

“We can change it by calling those legislators and telling them that what they say, and what they are doing in Springfield, that we are watching, and we will hold them accountable for their actions. And if they do not fix this budget, they won’t be down in Springfield next session," he said.

Also speaking was Andrea Anderson of the Zearing Child Enrichment Center. Anderson said Zearing has always extended its services for those who might need additional support and funding and have used the subsidized services from the Illinois Department of Human Services.

“At this current time, we have 43 children who receive subsidized assistance,” she said. “If these budget cuts do come to pass, I am strongly and deeply concerned about where these children will end up during the day.”

Janet Becker, director of children’s programs at Princeton Elementary School, also spoke for the children. Becker said PES has been part of a block grant through the Illinois State Board of Education for 20 years for its Bright Beginnings and Early Beginnings programs. Bright Beginnings serves 180 children, and  Early Beginnings serves 135 families every year. Those programs are in jeopardy of being reduced or eliminated.

“These devastating budget cuts are going to affect all the children and families in this area,” Becker said. “It is unacceptable for the governor and the general assembly to cut early childhood funds during a recession. Cutting these funds might save a few dollars today, but it will cost Princeton Elementary School District, the communities and Illinois much more than that in the future.”

Beth Schultz spoke for those who need services after becoming adults. She has two children with special needs who began receiving services at Gateway after attending Princeton High School. Schultz said her children already had their hours reduced at Gateway after funding cuts in March, and now their job assistance and home respite programs are also endangered.

“The staff that work in these areas are absolutely wonderful, and I am so happy they are part of my children’s lives,” she said.

Connie Doran, director of Freedom House, spoke for those who would be affected by cuts to domestic violence programs.

“I stand here before you today to make an appeal for support for human service agencies, ours included, which stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves, and for those who need help that would be unavailable to them without the existence of these agencies,” she said.

Doran said cutting services will only create more problems.

“Where will the abused go for help?” she said. “How will I tell that lady, ‘No, I’m sorry. You’ve been beaten, but I don’t have services.’”

Don Miskowiec, president of North Central Behavioral Health Systems, said the proposed cuts will be “catastrophic” for mental health and substance use services.

“One in four people suffers from either a mental health or substance use problem,” he said. “It’s pretty unconscionable to cut that many people out of service.”

The final speaker was Princeton Police Chief Tom Root, who talked about the impact of the cutbacks on law enforcement. He said the cutbacks would require a significantly larger amount of time for his officers if there was a situation involving a client of Gateway.

“Cutbacks from one organization such as Gateway can then multiply the time and resources of several other departments,” he said.