BLOOMINGTON - Linda McClure is a 45-year-old Bloomington woman with developmental disabilities who has a job with Occupational Development Center and lives in her own apartment and pays her bills and taxes with assistance from Marcfirst. | AT RISK: Programs for rape victims, adoptions | State agriculture programs | UP NEXT: Quinn wants tax vote Wednesday

On July 1, that assistance will disappear - unless the state comes up with money to offset planned cuts to human services programs.

"This is hard for me right now," McClure said in her apartment at Irvin Apartments South, 823 W. Oakland Ave., Bloomington, after work late Thursday afternoon. Hilary Pacha, Marcfirst resident manager, hugged McClure.

"It's been an emotionally draining week," Pacha said, referring to staff and residents trying to digest the impact of the state budget cuts. "I'm still in shock."

"All I can think about is these guys," she said, referring to McClure and other people with developmental disabilities who would lose the services that keep them as independent as possible.

Asked what she would do without a job and support at home, McClure said, "I don't know right now."

"We're trying to find outside services to help the people who live here," Pacha said. "Linda has a brother who can help but not all the residents have family in the area."

"Linda's life changes dramatically on July 1," said Matt Jackson, ODC chief executive officer. She won't be alone.

While hundreds of people with special needs in McLean County would experience service reductions because of the budget cuts, several dozen - like McClure - would experience a double blow of losing support at home (because they are Marcfirst clients) and losing their jobs (because they work at ODC).

Bracing for a big cut

Marcfirst, which assists people with developmental disabilities, is bracing for a $1.3 million cut from its $6.5 million budget, said CEO Rick Glass. Marcfirst would absorb the cut by cutting services to 32 residents at Irvin and Nierstheimer Apartments; services to 45 clients who live elsewhere in the community; and respite help for 85 families, he said.

Because Irvin and Nierstheimer are owned by Bloomington Housing Authority, they would remain open but Marcfirst services to residents would be cut.

Ten full-time employees and 29 part-timers would be laid off July 1. Twenty other full-time employees are being moved into other positions.

At ODC - which provides life skills, job training and placement for people with disabilities - $674,125 would be cut from a $3.3 million budget, Jackson said. Of 333 individuals who got help from ODC last year, only 81 would continue to receive services and a "significant number" of the agency's 90 employees would be laid off, he said.

"These people (with disabilities) didn't do anything wrong. They don't deserve this treatment," Glass said. "A lot of them will have nowhere to go and nothing to do."

"They have no organized lobby so are an easy mark," Jackson said.

McClure has done a variety of jobs in her 15 years at ODC. She has lived at Irvin South for 26 years and gets assistance with cooking and cleaning, taking medication, paying bills and going to doctors' appointments and physical therapy because of a hip problem.

An ongoing goal is to become more independent so she can get married. She is engaged to another Irvin South resident.

"I'm losing my goals now," McClure said. "The governor - I'm not too happy with him right now."

But McClure smiled as she stood up to go to dinner and gave Jackson a high-five.

"Don't worry. I'll be at work tomorrow morning."