Illinois Senate Restores Funding for MAP Grants, Human Services

CHICAGO, IL -- Students waiting for grant money so they can continue attending college and local social service organizations got some hope after the Illinois Senate pushed through legislation on Tuesday that would finish funding state services through the end of the current fiscal year

SB 6 provides provides funds from July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2017 for essential human services. The $740 million package will be used to fund mental health programs, addiction treatment, independent living for seniors and programs for developmentally disabled persons.

Also included in the legislation package is $1.1 billion for higher education that would restore funding for state universities and community colleges back to 2015 levels, the last year the state had a budget.

The legislation would also send promised MAP grant money to students through June 30. 2017. The Monetary Award Program provides grants to Illinois students attending approved Illinois colleges that do not have to be paid back. The MAP grants are awarded based on financial need.

“The state of Illinois committed to assisting students in bettering themselves by attending a university or community colleges,” Sen Bill Cunningham (18th District) said in a news release. “We need to send the money we promised these students so that they aren’t left hanging with the bill.”

The legislation also would fund critical human service programs, who saw what little funding was available from the stopgap proposal expire on December 31.

“Groups like Sertoma Centre, Park Lawn and Sandbox Learning Center have gone for far too long with no certainty that funding is coming,” Cunningham said. “Today, we were able to give them some hope by starting to pass this compromise.”