The Will-Grundy Center for Independent Living is thrilled that Gov. Rauner has suspended his cruel overtime policy within the Illinois Home Services Program.
Secretary [James] Dimas claims the policy saved $5 million. If so, it was a disinvestment in our economy that came at the cost of people with disabilities losing service, personal assistants not getting paid for their work, and personal assistants being forced to abandon their consumers because of the threat of termination.
A true benefit to taxpayers will come not from cuts, but from an investment in the program. The program allows 30,000 people to live in their own homes instead of institutions, which costs at least $10,000 more per person every year.
I urge Gov. Rauner to partner with people, with the community to create a new overtime plan. Working together, we can create a plan that supports the independence of consumers enrolled in the program and that fairly compensates workers for the services they provide.
Pam Heavens
Executive Director
Will-Grundy Center for Independent Living