By Cynthia Grau/WJEZ News

With the second month without a state budget, area agencies who depend on that budget to serve residents with specialized services are asking people to reach out to elected officials to take immediate action on the budget.

United Way Executive Director Deb Howard said nonprofit organizations are the backbone for the delivery of state services to the most at-risk residents. Not only does this lengthy budget impasse affect the agencies and those they serve, but also the employees.

Statistics released by the United Way of Illinois shows both at-risk populations and working families who are a critical part of Illinois’ economic development are being adversely affected by the lack of action in Springfield.

Howard will be a guest on Community Forum next week, where she will discuss in more detail, just how this budget stalemate affects the multiple agencies the United Way helps.