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On February 15, Governor J.B. Pritzker presented his proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2024, which begins July 1, 2023. YWCA Metropolitan Chicago applauds Governor Pritzker and his staff for presenting a budget that supports the needs of all Illinoisans and their families by including transformative funding for education, human services, and economic equity. 

The budget proposal includes the following noteworthy provisions: 

• $250 million to launch Smart Start Illinois, a multi-year program that will provide every child with access to preschool, increase funding to childcare providers to raise wages and improve quality, and reach more vulnerable families with early support. 

• $350 million to create the Home Illinois Program under the Department of Human Services, aimed at preventing and reducing homelessness. 

• $10 million to fund minority-owned business in Illinois looking to expand or relocate to another state. 

• $2 million to address health and racial inequality, confronting the social and environmental factors that contribute to disparities. 

Read the full blog post highlighting proposed budget and key provisions by clicking the image below: 

YWCA will continue to support and advocate for bold policies—like many included in this proposed budget—that advance peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.