BLOOMINGTON - Some group homes for developmentally disabled adults in Central Illinois are closing or are not reopening, partly because of the state's budget crisis.

"It (the problem) is far greater than the public imagines," said Dreux Lewandowski, executive director of Macon Resources, based in Decatur. "I haven't seen it this bad since the '90s."

Marcfirst, the Bloomington-based agency, is closing two of its nine group homes - one home in Bloomington and one home in Normal, said CEO Rick Glass. Two residents have relocated outside McLean County, five residents will move into Marcfirst apartments, and three residents will be assimilated into the remaining group homes, Glass said.

Some Marcfirst apartments do not have 24/7 staffing, which many group home residents need, he said.

The moves are happening this week and next week. When the homes are closed by Nov. 1, five Marcfirst group homes will have closed in the past three years. Glass said Marcfirst is not laying off employees but staffing is at a minimum.

Mosaic, based in Pontiac, had closed a group home for renovation and executive director Rod Patterson isn't sure when it will be reopened. Mosaic has seven group homes.

"We had planned to start admissions in August, but it's up in the air at this point and we have a waiting list," he said.

Macon Resources, which has 48 people living in seven group homes in Macon County, is not closing any homes but has closed three in the past five years and has increased the number of residents in each home, Lewandowski said.

"Our staffing is to a minimum," he said. "I haven't replaced (vacated) positions in years."

Homes of Hope isn't planning to close any of its four group homes in Bloomington-Normal but is holding down expenses and is looking for alternative funding, said executive director Maureen McIntosh.

The agency heads said group homes for the developmentally disabled - called CILAs (community integrated living arrangements) - have been underfunded in Illinois for several years. Funding has worsened recently with delays in state reimbursement payments and with a 2.5 percent rate cut for group homes, they said.

The Illinois Senate and House have voted to restore that cut but final action is up to Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Tom Green, of the Illinois Department of Human Services, said late Tuesday that the governor's office is reviewing the legislation.

Green said the department has a plan to move developmentally disabled people into community living and more than 200 have moved from state institutions to CILAs in the past two years. He urged people to check www.dd.illinois.gov or to call (888)-ddplans to connect with a local social service agency.

Even if the 2.5 percent cut is restored, Marcfirst will go ahead with closing the two group homes because the closings are reflective of a long-term funding problem, Glass said.