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Hunter: Department of Public Health must refocus priorities

State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) criticized the Illinois Department of Public Health on Wednesday for proposing cuts to programs and services that would disproportionately affect minority communities.

The Senate Appropriations I Committee heard testimony Wednesday morning from Nirav Shah, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, on possible budget cuts to reduce the $5 billion gap in Gov. Rauner’s budget.

The IDPH is holding an event celebrating “National Minority Health Month” in the Capitol’s rotunda this week.

“The department needs to refocus its priorities,” Hunter said. “To me, it’s highly hypocritical and counterproductive to celebrate bridging health equity, right after proposing cuts that will largely affect a group of individuals.”

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Hunter: It’s time to prioritize social service agencies

State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) is fighting for funding for domestic violence shelters following a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing this week. Advocates, including Vickie Smith, testified about the negative effects the budget impasse has had on domestic violence shelters across the state.

“In the late 1980s I served as a director for a domestic violence shelter and know firsthand how critical the services they provide are,” Hunter said. “By not funding these essential services, victims may stay in their homes longer and suffer ongoing abuse because they have nowhere else to go. It is a real shame that in their time of greatest need, the state is not willing or able to step up and support these victims.”

Domestic violence shelter funding was omitted in the FY17 budget. Since then, many domestic violence shelters have been forced to lay off staff, reduce services or even shut their doors due to the lack of state funding.

“Every single agency raises private dollars,” said Smith on “The 21st Podcast” on NPR. “But the money from the state is the core of operating funds. It keeps the lights on; it keeps the phone bill paid; and it pays their rent. If the agencies don’t have the core operating fund it’s really difficult to provide extra services… Considering everything is built around that.”

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