A Rockford center serving people with chronic mental illness will stay open…for now. The Jubilee Center in downtown Rockford was slated to close this week after thirty years because of state funding problems. But Emanuel Episcopal Church came through with a 15-thousand dollar grant to keep it open until state funding is approved. Baldemar Gallegos is the center’s site coordinator. He says a lot of people count on the Jubilee Center and its services.
“People come in here daily, usually seeking support,” he says, “whether it’s housing advocacy, medical advocacy, psychiatric advocacy or coming in just to get off the streets just to get a little something to eat, after a long weekend of being on the streets.”
The day center is run by Shelter Care Ministries and serves an average of 70 people a day. A state grant that covers nearly half of its $200,000 dollar budget is still in limbo. Shelter Care has also permanently closed its job training and life coaching program because of funding problems.
