ROGERS PARK — The Howard Area Community Center's day care program, which serves 116 Rogers Park children and their families, could be scaled back if the state doesn't solve a $300 million budget shortfall.
The Department of Human Services announced the budget shortfall for the popular Child Care Assistance Program.
If a budget fix isn't made soon, the day care at 7510 N. Ashland Ave. could cut hours and staff, said Stephania Koliarakis, the program's director.
"We are holding out on the faith that our elected officials are going to do what's best for the families that need to work," she said.
Koliarakis said most of the families who use the center for child care hold low-paying jobs with strict schedules and little time off. So a reduction in hours could lead to parents losing their jobs and in turn relying on other state-funded social programs.
About 60 percent of the center's $71,000 monthly budget comes from the state to pay for supplies and teachers, she said. The state's payments have been delayed, and the center is picking up the slack.
Parent Reyna Terrell, 23, who works 40 hours a week at the center, said she wouldn't be able to hold down her job and continue to go to school without child care for her 3-year-old daughter.
"I'm a single mom, so I do everything financially for my daughter," she said. "I strongly depend on my child care."
She said other parents are just as concerned.
State Rep. Kelly Cassidy (D-14) said in an email she was "confident a solution will be reached, hopefully sooner rather than later."
She said everyone in Springfield was dedicated to restore funding, which was lost when a temporary state income tax rate began to roll back on Jan. 1.
Cassidy said a short-term fix would involve shifting money from various government funds to cover the shortfall.
"In the long term, a progressive income tax would lessen the burden on most taxpayers while fully funding human services, including childcare," she said.
For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here:
