South Suburban Family Shelter (SSFS) has launched a campaign to spread the word that it needs its promised funding from the state. SSFS, an agency based in Homewood that works with victims of domestic violence, is urging supporters to join the “Tell 7” initiative by doing three things: call, give and tell.
South Suburban Family Shelter (SSFS) has launched a campaign to spread the word that it needs its promised funding from the state.
SSFS, an agency based in Homewood that works with victims of domestic violence, is urging supporters to join the “Tell 7” initiative by doing three things: call, give and tell.
“We are asking our community of committed supporters to help us by doing three actions: Call your legislators, give what you can and tell seven of your friends to do the same,” said Jennifer Gabreyna, executive director of SSFS.
Legislators failed to include more than $18 million for domestic violence agencies like SSFS into the budget. SSFS budgeted for more than $435,000 in state reimbursements to cover about half of the cost for a medical advocacy program, a portion of the counseling program and prevention and outreach programming.
“A lot of times people sympathize with our cause but don’t always know what they can do. So we realized we need to tell people the things they can do,” Gabreyna said.
The simplest “Tell 7” initiative is sharing the urgency of need with legislators so they make domestic violence prevention funding a priority. At the Illinois State Board of Education website or on the Chronicle’s Contact Your Representatives page, supporters will get information on their legislators and how to contact them.
Social media users are encouraged to use the hashtag #tell7 and to share the message with friends on Facebook.
SSFS entered into a contract with Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS) in July 2016 and has been submitting billings on a monthly basis, but hasn’t received any funding the past seven months. Gabrenya received a notice from DHS in December informing her there is no money for domestic violence services.
Even though DHS has said it intends to pay SSFS, it has no authority to authorize the checks. Unfortunately, SSFS can’t even get into the state comptroller’s queue of unpaid bills lined up and waiting for payment. The legislature never provided the money for the domestic violence prevention account that the comptroller would use for SSFS payments, Gabrenya explained.
SSFS is hoping it can get the issue front and center with the “Tell 7” campaign.
“We are committed to staying and doing the important work that we do. We’re going to make that happen, so we’re hoping the community feels moved to support us at this time,” Gabrenya said.
“Everyone has the ability to impact the people around them. That’s the way we can really have that ripple effect happen. You can do it and you can tell the people around you this is something important that you can do,” she explained.
Tax-deductible gifts can be directed to South Suburban Family Shelter, 18139 Harwood Ave., Homewood.