State Rep. Maria "Toni" Berrios visits CALOR,
a division of Anixter Center

Berrios advocates to save funding for human services in Illinois budget

CHICAGO, IL (March 17, 2006) – State Representative Maria Antonia “Toni” Berrios of Chicago visited CALOR, a division of Anixter Center that offers a number of services to Chicago’s Latino community, including many individuals affected by HIV/AIDS. Berrios met with Anixter Center President and CEO Allan I. Bergman and CALOR staff on March 17 to discuss Anixter Center’s role in the community and the need to protect human services funding at the state level.

Berrios, (39th), whose district covers the Avondale, Belmont Cragin, Hermosa, and Logan Square neighborhoods on Chicago’s Northwest side, was impressed by CALOR’s services and the passion the employees display for working in the community and preserving funding for human services. CALOR is located at 3220 W. Armitage Avenue in Chicago. Chicago.

“I knew that the Human Services budget was being cut, but I didn't understand the impact of the amount of the cutback until I met with Allan Bergman, CALOR Director Omar Lopez and the CALOR staff,” says Berrios. “I learned that these services need to be enhanced, not cut, and I will go back to Springfield looking for ways to help human services, especially AIDS outreach and mental health programs, to be better funded.”

Human Services face a difficult budget in FY ’07 as the Governor’s current proposal does not include a Cost of Doing Business increase for community-based programs that assist people with disabilities. Illinois ranks 47th in the nation in terms of spending on community developmental disability services and recently received an “F” in the National Alliance on Mental Illness’ latest report, which graded the states for mental health services.

Berrios spoke with Bergman about the dire financial straits human services agencies face as a result of inadequate state funding. As a result, Berrios pledged to work towards changing the stagnant funding these organizations encounter in the state budget.

“I understand that Illinois is in a budget crisis,” says Berrios. “But I don't agree with cutting services that are important, not only to Latinos, but for the entire state. There has got to be another way to fund important human service agencies in Illinois. I will take the information given to me, study it and see where changes in the full budget can be made and then offer suggestions to my fellow leaders.”
 

Caption information

CALOR Director Omar Lopez and Rep. Berrios discussing CALOR services;
CALOR Director Omar Lopez, Rep. Berrios and Anixter Center President and CEO Allan I. Bergman

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CALOR offers a variety of services in Chicago’s Latino community, including services for individuals impacted by HIV/AIDS, that help people lead a healthier, more productive lives. CALOR is a division of Anixter Center, one of the largest nonprofit organizations in the region and the 13th-largest charitable organization in Chicago according to Crain’s Chicago Business. The mission of the Lester and Rosalie Anixter Center is to assist people with disabilities to live and work successfully in the community. Anixter Center is a leading provider of high-quality vocational, residential and educational options, substance abuse prevention and treatment, and health care. More than 5,000 individuals a year are served through 70 programs at 35 locations throughout the Chicago area.

Note to reporters and editors: for more information about Anixter Center, please visit our media room at http://www.anixter.org/mediaroom/index.htm.