WREX.com – Rockford’s News LeaderLocal moms hit doubly hard by possible Illinois budget cuts

Local moms hit doubly hard by possible Illinois budget cuts

By Marissa Alter

ROCKFORD (WREX) - Families across the state will keep a close watch on what goes on in Springfield next week. That's when Illinois lawmakers will head back to the state capitol to try and fix the budget mess. If legislators don't agree to raise taxes, they'll likely slash more than $9 billion in spending, including many social service agencies.

Single mom Patti Hobbs doesn't need to read about or hear about how devastating the state's budget cuts will be. She knows it first hand.

"I hit the trifecta of bad news."

That's because Patti and her friend Corrina Milbrandt work for a local non-profit that provides support to families with disabilities. If the cuts stay, their jobs don't.

"I'm scared. I really am," says Corrina.

But that fear isn't just for herself. Corrina's 9-year-old son Mason has autism.

"I do receive in-home respite care for him, so I can work," she explains.

That care will be eliminated if legislators don't restore money to human services.

"He needs to be watched all the time. His safety would be at risk. He's on a special diet. He has to have food prepared for him a special way--all those things."

Patti can relate. Her 11-year-old daughter Sydney has cerebral palsy.

"I rely on four women that come and help me take care of Sydney in my home," she states.

On top of that, Patti's received the Family Assistance Program stipend for the past nine years.

"I've used that to buy a wheelchair accessible van, a power bed for my daughter, and without that money, it's going to make it really hard for me to purchase disability-related items."

Both Patti and Corrina wrote letters to lawmakers and hope their stories changes some minds.