New survey reveals widespread impact of low wages among Alameda County’s over 30,000 home care workers, worsening county’s care crisis - SEIU2015

Workers urge County Supervisors to address crisis by raising wages

Alameda County, CA – Today, Alameda County’s In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) workers, members of SEIU Local 2015—the nation’s largest long-term care union representing more than half a million workers across California—returned to the Board of Supervisors meeting to urge elected officials to invest in long-term care.

In Alameda County, more than 30,000 IHSS workers provide essential long-term care (including paramedical, personal care, and household services) to older adults and people with disabilities. The IHSS program ensures people who need long-term care can receive it in the setting of their choice, supporting their ability to remain in their homes in the Alameda community instead of an institutional setting.

More than 2.6 million authorized care hours went unused last year in Alameda County, pointing to a shortage of providers for seniors and disabled individuals in need. In turn, wages and benefits that fail to meet the needs of families are driving IHSS workers out of the caregiving profession: Alameda IHSS providers earn $20.00 an hour while MIT estimates the area living wage to be $29.95 per hour for one adult with no children.

Recent polling reveals these low wages prevent them from paying for housing, feeding their families and accessing medical care:

77% of Alameda’s IHSS workers work multiple jobs—at least some of the time—just to make ends meet.
63% of Alameda’s IHSS workers have difficulty paying their rent or mortgage each month, reporting that they are sometimes or always late with their payments.
54% of Alameda’s IHSS workers experience consistent food insecurity, relying on CalFresh and/or food banks at least monthly.
47% of Alameda’s IHSS workers are sometimes or often unable to access medication and 43% are sometimes or often prevented from visiting the doctor due to concerns about cost.

“Every year, our rent increases but our pay doesn’t,” said Marilyn Austin Smith, an Alameda County IHSS worker. “My husband is on Section 8 and we can’t even think about ever owning our home. After being a care worker for over 25 years, I have nothing to fall back on because we don’t have a strong contract.”

In Alameda and across California, the population of older adults is growing, increasing the demand for in-home care. In 2024, more than 2.6 million authorized care hours went unused in Alameda County, pointing to a shortage of providers for seniors and disabled individuals in need. Lack of access to the wages and benefits needed to provide for their families is driving IHSS workers out of the caregiving profession.

“IHSS workers are dedicated to their communities, but we aren’t valued,” said Cindy Zhang, an Alameda County IHSS worker. “We make sure older adults and people with disabilities are able to live with dignity. We need a strong contract for the essential work we do.”

“Alameda’s IHSS workers are an essential workforce, providing critical care for older adults and people with disabilities,” said SEIU Local 2015 President Arnulfo De La Cruz. “They need to be valued so we can safeguard the well-being of those who provide care and those who receive it.”

SEIU Local 2015 is committed to advancing policies that improve the lives of long-term care workers and those they care for. The union’s bargaining team encourages the Board of Supervisors to collaborate to address these pressing issues and ensure that Alameda’s long-term care system is prepared to support the county’s future.

Click here to see photos from this morning’s Alameda County Board of Supervisor s action.