Lessie Bates to lay off 117 due to state budget impasse

The Lessie Bates Davis Neighborhood House will lay off 117 workers on April 30 due to the state budget impasse.

The workers are involved in a variety of programs administered by the social services agency, including the Homeless Youth Services Program, the Community Youth Services Program, the Comprehensive Community-based Youth Services Program and the Illinois Healthy Families Program.

The 25-member board voted unanimously Thursday night to temporarily suspend the programs because the state is behind in issuing funds.

“At this point, our most serious financial issue relates to our In-Home Services Program through the Illinois Department of Aging’s Community Care Program,” said Bill Kreeb, executive director of Lessie Bates Neighborhood House. “It’s going to have a devastating impact on seniors and homemakers.”

The Neighborhood House serves 300 elderly people, some of whom are the poorest and most isolated seniors in the East St. Louis area, he said.

Currently, the state is only paying for Medicaid-eligible clients, Kreeb said. “We are not receiving any payment for the more than 150 non-Medicaid clients we serve.

“The only reason the decision was made to temporarily suspend the program is because of the budget impasse. We want to serve our elderly. All of the state workers are getting paid. We believe providers should be getting paid, too.”Kreeb said..

Kreeb said as of February, the state owes Lessie Bates more than $500,000 for the non-Medicaid clients. He said each month, the Neighborhood House is incurring more than $100,000 in expenses that the state is not reimbursing.

“The agency already has had to borrow more than $500,000 and would have to borrow more than $1million by June 30 to keep the In-Home Services Program operating,” Kreeb said.

Chris K. Coleman, senior vice president of operations for Lessie Bates, said, “Our senior care program provides the seniors we serve with food that comes from our food pantry. Without the in-home care program the seniors won’t get the food. You already know the seniors are having to choose between paying for medicine and buying food.

“And, the workers will now have to seek state assistance, such as food stamps and unemployment. Many of them came off welfare. Now, they are going to find themselves going back. Some may become homeless. There’s a waiting list for public housing.”

Shari Armstead, director of services for older adults, said, “The purpose of the In-Home Care Program is to keep the elderly from going into institutions,” which she said would cost the state more than the in-home program costs.

“Some of the (clients) have no family, no way to prepare their meals, get to the store or do much of anything for themselves. They are used to their caregivers and it will be devastating for them to lose them,” she said.

The workers learned Monday of the temporary layoffs. The clients will be told through the Visiting Nurses Program. “After April 30, their workers will not be there for them,” Armstead said.

The in-home care workers are part of Teamsters Union Local 50. Scott Alexander, president of Local 50, said, “This will devastate local members who provide a crucial service to our elderly.

“These seniors are going to have to go anywhere they can. A lot of them depend on public transportation,” he said. “These are long-term employees. It’s really going to be devastating to them. How are they going to live?”

The Lessie Bates Davis Neighborhood House is a United Methodist Church-based Community Center located at 1200 N. 13th St. that has been serving the residents of the greater East St. Louis area for more than 100 years.

Anyone with questions is urged to call Lessie Bates at (618) 874-5257.

This story was originally published April 6, 2016 at 4:51 PM with the headline "Lessie Bates to lay off 117 due to state budget impasse."