Mayor Rahm Emanuel praises lawmakers for $4.3 million boost to homeless shelters

(Chicago, IL) - The Illinois General Assembly on Tuesday evening approved legislation that would restore $4.3 million to emergency shelter services for homeless Illinois citizens, drawing warm praise from Chicago's mayor.

"I applaud the Illinois General Assembly for restoring critical funding to the Emergency and Transitional Housing program that supports homeless services and shelters," said Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

"I want to commend State Representative Sara Feigenholtz and State Senator Heather Steans for their leadership on this critical issue."

In October 2011, 2,919 interim shelter beds in the City of Chicago, or 98.2% of the total beds available, were already used.

"Providing a safe, warm shelter for homeless American citizens must be a fundamental responsibility of a government and its leaders," said Feigenholtz.

The legislature's restoration of the emergency shelter money also drew applause from a leading homeless advocate.

"The restoration of critical funding for homeless services shows that the General Assembly gets what's right for Illinois' neediest residents," said Streetwise Executive DirectorJames LoBianco.

"What the people of Illinois need most this winter is a stable network of social services, and I am grateful that our law makers have helped provide that through this vote," LoBianco added.

The funding legislation, Senate Bill 2412, was part of a larger$273 million supplemental budget that shuffled around state monies-robbing Peter to pay Paul-to keep an assortment of state facilities and programs running until the end of the state's fiscal year, June 30, 2012.

Governor Pat Quinn is expected to sign the legislation.

"With winter approaching, these funds will allow us to continue to respond to the needs of homeless Chicagoans and provide essential emergency services to keep them safe," said Emanuel.

The money is coming just in time.