(20 ILCS 4080/5)
Sec. 5. Legislative Findings. It is the goal of the State of Illinois that all people be free from poverty.
The preamble to the Constitution of the State of Illinois states that the elimination of poverty and inequality are among the core goals of our State government. The Illinois Human Rights Act states that the public policy of the State of Illinois is "to promote the public health, welfare and safety by protecting the interest of all people in Illinois in maintaining personal dignity, in realizing their full productive capacities, and in furthering their interests, rights and privileges as citizens of this State". The State of Illinois is a party to all international human rights treaties signed and ratified by the United States.
Illinois is one of the wealthiest states in the United States, yet it has one of the highest rates of poverty and extreme poverty in the Midwest. The poverty level in 2007 was $20,620 or less per year for a family of 4 and $10,310 or less per year for a family of 4 in extreme poverty. In 2006 just under 1,400,000 people residing in Illinois were living in poverty and over 687,000 people residing in Illinois were living in extreme poverty. There are people living in extreme poverty in every Illinois county.
Full participation in civic life cannot be achieved without those things that protect and preserve human dignity and make for a healthy life, including adequate nutrition and housing, meaningful work, safe communities, health care, and education.
Illinois has no comprehensive plan for the elimination of poverty.
(Source: P.A. 95-833, eff. 8-15-08.)
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Last modified: February 18, 2015