An Illinois rape crisis center is suspending nearly all of its services and will lay off five employees after operating for nearly a year without state money. The nonprofit Rape Advocacy Counseling and Education Services agency will end counseling, legal advocacy and community education programs June 1.
But the Urbana center's 24-hour crisis line will continue with $25,000 from United Way of Champaign to hire a part-time volunteer coordinator. The money comes from United Way's emergency fund designed to help agency partners in need.
The center has operated without $200,000 in state money since July 1, when the state budget should have gone into effect. Agency leaders say they are working to match clients with other community agencies.
