Just how many unemployed Illinoisans are facing the prospect of a winter without any income? Too many, according to new state-by-state figures (PDF) from the National Employment Law Project (NELP).

Between January and March of next year, the national policy organization says 66,271 Illinois workers will exhaust their regular 26 weeks of state-based benefits. An additional 126,748 workers will lose eligibility for the next tier of federally-subsidized insurance. This means that, barring congressional action, in just four short months an alarming 192,965 Illinoisans -- the fifth highest number in the country -- will no longer be able to collect jobless benefits.

At a press conference in Washington today, labor officials from six states joined representatives of the AFL-CIO, the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, and the National Women’s Law Center to push for another federal extension. Harvard economist Raj Chetty strongly rebuked opponents' claims that extending the benefits provides a disincentive for the unemployed to find work:

“In this economy people will take almost any work they can get, and the prospect of another 13 weeks of benefits isn’t going to alter that significantly,” he said. “People have depleted their savings and exhausted the help of relatives.”

So with prolonged aid, Professor Chetty added, “You are in effect helping them to feed their kids.”

Congressional aides assured the Times that renewing the aid programs "has bipartisan support." Finding a revenue source suitable to members of both parties is trickier.  (The extension runs about $100 billion, one-third of the estimated price tag of the jobs bill Democrats are currently crafting.) Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), assistant to the Speaker and chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, floated the idea of using money from the Troubled Asset Relief Program, which the White House says it's considering. Republicans want to use those resources to pay down the federal debt.

Until some resolution is reached, more and more families will have nowhere else to turn.

On a brighter note, a dry cleaner in Rochelle, IL is looking out for the unemployed:

Rochelle Laundry will dry clean your suit or dress for free if you are unemployed and need help looking your best for an upcoming job interview.

"The current state of the economy is bad enough, but when you personally experience a job loss, things can really be tough. This is one way we have of helping people gain employment and support their families," said Rochelle Laundry owner Robert Guyer.