To the Editor:

McHenry County community-based agencies are facing extreme challenges. Since 2009, the state has slashed almost $600 million from the Department of Human Services funding to community-based providers. Several agencies providing much-needed services in our communities have not received payment from the state since Dec. 31, 2011. Neglecting to pay $8 billion to state providers is negatively impacting human-service providers.

The state’s delayed payments, along with local funding cuts, are forcing our agencies to reduce programs/services and deplete reserves and lines of credit.