This spring, counseling services for 18,000 sexual assault victims in Illinois could be shut down. Yesterday in Rock Island, representatives from the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault pleaded for Governor Bruce Rauner to pass a state budget.
Counsel, Kelly Griffith, says the agency operates 29 crisis centers across the state, including SafePath Family Resources in the Quad Cities. The centers have been waiting on $6.5 million since July.
Griffith says several centers have already been cutting staff and services. And, if state money is not provided to the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault by the end of March, all services will be suspended.