DIRECTIONS  

- Suzan Nash, Executive Director   

Poverty is on the Rise in Illinois   

"As we go about our daily work, we can only hope that we are continuing to make a positive difference in the lives of those who are less fortunate." 

In September 2012, the Illinois Commission on the Elimination of Poverty released its annual report on poverty in Illinois. The report presents some very sobering information regarding the increase in poverty in our state, including the following facts:

• Extreme poverty has risen dramatically since 2008, with 235,472 more persons living in extreme poverty. This represents a 38.8% increase since 2008.

• Children are more likely to live in extreme poverty than adults, and as of 2011, 289,788 children under the age of 17 were living in poverty.

• Over half of all Illinoisans in extreme poverty are children, seniors, or working-age people with a work-limiting disability, people who cannot or are not expected to work.

The Commission indicated that there are key issues which must be addressed in order to move persons and families out of poverty. Those issues include:

1. Access to safe, decent and affordable housing
2. Access to adequate food and nutrition
3. Access to affordable and quality healthcare
4. Equal access to quality education and training
5. Dependable and affordable transportation
6. Access to quality and affordable child care
7. Opportunities to engage in meaningful and sustainable work
8. The availability of adequate income support

We at the WIRC-CAA continue to see the hardship that poverty causes including the inability to maintain adequate shelter or housing, to feed and clothe one's children and the inability to have adequate access to educational and job opportunities that could help individuals and families get ahead. As we go about our daily work, we can only hope that we are continuing to make a positive difference in the lives of those who are less fortunate. And we can only hope that our state and federal policymakers continue to make sound decisions and take wise action to try and address the needs of those who are most vulnerable.  

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity recently announced that five communities in the Western Illinois Regional Council region will receive funds through the Community Development Assistance Program (CDAP) Housing Rehabilitation component. The program assists low income families, especially the disabled and elderly, to make improvements to their homes, which also helps to stabilize neighborhoods and the housing markets in rural communities.  Housing rehabilitation prioritizes work that makes energy improvements to the home, reduces lead hazards, and brings the home to within various codes such as electrical, plumbing and other local and national building codes.      

The following communities will receive funding from the CDAP Program:

• The Village of London Mills will receive $278,550 to rehabilitate a minimum of six homes in targeted neighborhoods.
• The City of Colchester will receive $342,720 to rehabilitate a minimum of seven homes in targeted neighborhoods.
• The Village of Avon will receive $293,760 to rehabilitate a minimum of six homes in targeted neighborhoods.
• The City of LaHarpe will receive $440,482 to rehabilitate a minimum of nine homes in targeted neighborhoods.
• The Village of Kirkwood will receive $440,482 to rehabilitate a minimum of nine homes in targeted neighborhoods.