IL Metro Industrial Area Foundation (IAF) Action with Illinois Senate President Don Harmon

On Sunday October 25, 2020, Lake County United (LCU) leaders joined a zoom and in person action with Senator Harmon. The 500+ people were from member institutions of LCU, DuPage United, United Power and Fox River Valley Initiative - all affiliates of the IL Metro Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF). In addition Senator Morrison, Senator Bush, and County Board Member Jennifer Clark also attended.

See video to hear LCU leaders Liliana Gaytan, Waukegan to College and Dr. Chuck Nozicka, St. Joseph Catholic Church, speak to Sen Harmon about pressing issues listed below.
Video of Action with Senator Don Harmon

Action was based on 2 major issues:

• Funding for construction for housing that is affordable
• Medicaid funding for Crisis Stabilization Units (CSU)

Funding for housing

Building off our previous success of getting $200 million in the state capital budget to construct quality housing, we pressed Senator Harmon to make sure newly generated revenue went to housing first.

Funding to help address mental health

The state is financially broke and spends enormous tax dollars on people sent to jail and chronically returning to jail, not to mention court costs. Diverting people from jail to a Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU) would free up funds to treat people with mental illness.
Read more details.

Senate President Harmon committed to working with IL Metro IAF to use his position as leader of the State Senate to prioritize capital budget revenue for housing. Sen. Harmon also committed to reach out to Governor Pritzker to seek a meeting with us to discuss these two issues.