Shelter Cuts Will Put More Homeless On Streets, Advocates Say
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Ahead of an anticipated cold and snowy winter, Chicago area homeless shelters are worried government funding cuts will mean more people on the streets.
Even before the state cut the budget by half, homeless shelters across Illinois had to deny service to people over 45,000 times last year, according to West Suburban PADS executive director Lynda Schueler.
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She says if the $4.7 million isn't restored, that means an additional 6,700 people will be turned away from shelters this winter.
Abdullah Hassan, interim CEO of Inner Voice, says if lawmakers don't bring the money back, his agency's shelters will have to choose between services and food, maintenance and beds.
Charles Austin says without Yana House, on Chicago's South Side, he would have been out on the street two months after loosing his job.
Chicago area homeless shelters plan to bus 100 people to Springfield on Wednesday to press their case before lawmakers.
