Rosecrance executive director Sheila Ferguson remains hopeful that the agency can partner with other local agencies to weather any further state cuts in 2017.

An Urbana woman has started an online petition asking local government officials to reopen the emergency shelter beds at the TIMES Center, citing the tax dollars used to build the center for that purpose. But the executive director of Rosecrance Champaign-Urbana, the non-profit that owns and operates the facility, says that's no longer a possibility.

The community has lost 95 emergency beds for homeless men since the start of 2016 because of budget cuts.  There is a plan in the works to replace 30 of those beds in January through March of 2017.

The head of the former Community Elements says they plan to expand their substance abuse treatment services in Champaign-Urbana, now that they have merged with Rockford-based Rosecrance.

The state budget impasse is forcing Champaign’s Community Elements to make another round of cutbacks in its programs for the homeless this month.