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Illinois rape crisis center suspends services after operating a year without a budget

An Illinois rape crisis center is suspending nearly all of its services and will lay off five employees after operating for nearly a year without state money.
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Illinois Capitol

URBANA, Ill. (AP) — An Illinois rape crisis center is suspending nearly all of its services and will lay off five employees after operating for nearly a year without state money.

The (Champaign) News-Gazette reports that the nonprofit Rape Advocacy Counseling and Education Services agency will end counseling, legal advocacy and community education programs June 1.

But the Urbana center’s 24-hour crisis line will continue with $25,000 from United Way of Champaign to hire a part-time volunteer coordinator. The money comes from United Way’s emergency fund designed to help agency partners in need.

The center has operated without $200,000 in state money since July 1 — when the state budget should have gone into effect. Agency leaders say they are working to match clients with other community agencies.

CLICK HERE to read more about the Illinois budget crisis

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