A bill that would fund domestic violence centers in Illinois was sent from the House to the Senate yesterday. In order to restore funding to shelters across the state – including The Women’s Center in Carbondale – the bill would need to be passed by the Senate today.

Two employees at the Women’s Center have been laid off, and if no funding is received from the state by July 1, 15 staff members will have to start taking unpaid furlough days.

The Women’s Center said it is $450,000 behind in state funding – which is about 1/3 of the center’s yearly budget.