Santa Cruz County, CA – Today, Santa Cruz In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) workers, represented by SEIU Local 2015—the largest long-term care union in the nation—will once again share public comments and rally at the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors office to demand livable wages, healthcare benefits, and fair compensation for their essential work.
Santa Cruz County IHSS workers currently earn an hourly wage of $18.75, which is only about half of what is needed to meet the basic cost of living in the county, estimated at $36.64 per hour. This makes their wage the lowest in the state when compared to the actual cost of living in their region. The situation is particularly dire for caregivers with children, as their wages cover less than 30% of the cost of living.
As IHSS workers continue their negotiations with the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors, the board has proposed an offer that threatens to eliminate healthcare coverage and only raises wages by a meager $0.85 per hour, bringing the hourly rate to $19.60—still far below the living wage. Many long-term care workers are already leaving the industry due to these poor conditions, and in 2023 alone, more than half a million authorized care hours went unused due to a lack of available caregivers.
A recent SEIU 2015 survey highlights the hardships faced by IHSS workers in Santa Cruz County:
- Working Multiple Jobs: Nearly 75% of IHSS providers reported working multiple jobs—at least some of the time—to make ends meet.
- Relying on Public Assistance: Over 31% of IHSS providers currently rely on programs like CalFresh and MediCal to survive.
- Food and Housing Insecurity: 40% of respondents experience consistent food insecurity, and more than half report having difficulty paying their rent or mortgage each month. One in three providers say their home is overcrowded, with 48.2% spending at least half of their income on housing.
- Healthcare Disparities: Nearly 40% of IHSS providers reported being unable to afford medications, and 37.8% are sometimes or often prevented from visiting the doctor due to cost concerns.
Despite these dire conditions, IHSS workers are excluded from the Santa Cruz Living Wage Ordinance, which covers other public sector workers. This exclusion further exacerbates their financial struggles and denies them access to critical healthcare benefits. Even with the ordinance in place, there is a waitlist for county-funded healthcare benefits, leaving many workers without the healthcare they need.
The growing demand for care, coupled with the exodus of caregivers, underscores the urgent need for wage increases and improved benefits. Without these changes, more caregivers will be forced to leave the profession for higher-paying jobs in other industries, leaving Santa Cruz County’s most vulnerable residents without the care they deserve.
“I know how important it is to go beyond the call of duty. Caregivers need compassion to create an environment centered around empathy and compassion. We are the workers in the shadows — the backbone to our community and I want the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors to feel what it’s like to provide care for someone who depends on you,” said Jessica Vasquez, a Santa Cruz County IHSS provider and SEIU 2015 member.
SEIU Local 2015 is dedicated to advocating for policies that support in-home care providers and the individuals they care for, including livable wages, benefits, and access to training and professional development opportunities. We urge the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors to work with us to address these pressing issues and ensure that all who qualify have access to the care they need and deserve in the comfort of their own homes.
SEIU Local 2015 is the largest union in California, representing more than 470,000 long-term care workers (home care, skilled nursing facility, and assisted living center workers) throughout the state. Its members are as diverse as the state’s population but are united in their commitment to caring for California’s seniors and people with disabilities.To learn more about SEIU Local 2015 visit www.SEIU2015.org or on social media @SEIU2015.