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- Written by: Deb Baumann
IHSS is Lake County's largest employer with 1,800 workers. At their current wage, a full-time IHSS worker earns less than $23,000 a year, hard enough for an individual but most IHSS workers are also family providers.
Consequently, there is a high turnover rate. Hiring and training new workers is more expensive than keeping skilled workers. Harris and Rogers make solid cases for how a modest IHSS wage increase would economically benefit the entire county.
In “Austerity, the History of a Dangerous Idea,” economist Mark Blyth documents how, for the past 40 years, our government has practiced austerity economics ("belt tightening") by reducing spending on programs that help most Americans, while increasing corporate welfare in the form of huge subsidies and giving tax breaks to the wealthy ("trickle down"). Austerity economics is "penny wise, pound foolish" made into national policy.
No matter which party holds power in Washington, austerity economics has been practiced for four straight decades, with disastrous results for the average American. While corporate and Wall Street profits have shot through the roof, workers wages have stagnated, failing to keep up with inflation, so that someone in the same income bracket has less buying power today than they did 20 years ago.
What drives an economy? People spending money. What happens when people have less to spend? Economic depression.
No economy can be "belt tightened" into prosperity. That stuff "trickling down" is not prosperity.
Austerity economics is good for making the wealthiest even more wealthy, but for the rest of us … it does not work.
So, yes, even a modest raise in hourly wage for 1,800 workers would benefit Lake County's economy overall, because every penny of the additional four million will likely be spent here in Lake County, on necessities.
Lake County only pays 16 cents on the dollar toward IHSS. The other 84 cents comes from federal and state – that’s outside money coming into our county, an infusion of fresh blood.
The economic case is clear – raising the hourly wage of 1,800 workers would inject many more millions into our local economy annually, save money by helping IHSS keep trained staff already on board, and cost Lake County only 16 cents on the dollar.
The alternative to IHSS is nursing homes, which cost taxpayers much more. IHSS enables our elderly to remain in their own homes, surrounded by their community, while saving taxpayer dollars. IHSS provides seniors with a higher quality of life, at less cost. This is a no-brainer.
People who cut corners on small costs (saving pennies) can pay dearly in terms of large expenses later (pound foolish).
I hope our Board of Supervisors will see the wisdom in embracing a win-win proposal like the modest wage raise which IHSS is requesting.
Deb Baumann lives in Upper Lake, Calif.
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- Written by: Dr. David Rogers
To correct this possibly erroneous impression, I would urge at the Board of Supervisors to support a living-wage increase to the In-Home Supportive Services, or IHSS, workers in Lake County.
The IHSS program provides homecare services to low-income seniors and people with disabilities, providing this care in the home with dignity, rather than forcing the citizen into an institution.
The IHSS program is a far more effective use of funds for the care of the elderly and disabled than resorting to a nursing home.
IHSS is supported by Federal (54%), State of California (30%), and county of Lake (16.2%) funds, and is a good example of Lake County receiving a greater return on tax dollars (84 cents on the dollar) to support a critical program in Lake County.
Additionally, IHSS wages generate nearly $15 million input to the Lake County economy, and nearly $200,000 in Lake County tax revenue.
IHSS caregivers are typically paid at the minimum wage level, and are currently seeking a very modest wage increase on the order of 4 percent.
This raise is a considerably smaller percentage than the latest increase voted by the Board of Supervisors members to themselves.
Please contact your county supervisor and urge them to support the IHSS modest wage increase.
Dr. David Rogers lives in Lakeport, Calif.
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- Written by: Doug Harris
Workers who provide needed care, supervision and support for people with disabilities, the frail elderly, and the very young can expect the lowest wages in our economy.
This has been evident given my experiences which include director of the Area Agency on Aging for Lake and Mendocino Counties, clients rights advocate for people with developmental disabilities, and an instructor in human services for the Yuba Community College District, among others.
A major component in this dilemma is the wages paid to in-home support workers, some 1,800 of them, in the county-administered In-home Supportive Services program, or IHSS, in Lake County.
These workers make it possible for the frail elderly and people with disabilities to remain safely in their homes as long as possible, thereby minimizing the need for institutional care. Institutional care is far more expensive, and in virtually all circumstances represents a substantially diminished quality of life.
Thus, IHSS constitutes a classic win-win in that people live happier, more functional lives, and the financial cost to society is reduced considerably. In the big picture, society benefits from maintaining contact that supports the dignity of and respect for our elders and neighbors with disabilities.
IHSS workers have historically been limited to minimum wage in spite of efforts to convince the county that they are deserving of higher compensation.
Currently the Service Employees International Union is arguing for a small step toward correcting this situation in the form of a 50 cent per hour raise above minimum wage and funding for minimal employee benefits from the county.
I would stress that this is a small step toward rectifying the underlying problem, and that it is a financially wise step. Any increase in wages will recirculate in the local economy benefiting public revenues and private businesses.
Most importantly, Improved compensation and benefits will raise the quality of care for the most vulnerable by attracting a wider pool of workers to choose from.
Simply put, it is both the right and smart thing to do. I urge you to contact your county supervisor and ask them to support the requested increase in IHSS compensation.
Doug Harris lives in Clearlake, Calif.
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- Written by: Annelle Durham
I had heard of the Clear Lake Soroptimist Club before but I had just assumed that they were something like a sorority and that didn’t interest me.
After hearing an interview on KPFZ with club member Olga Martin Steele about human trafficking I looked the club up online and learned that that the club is actually a global volunteer movement working to transform the lives of women and girls. That sounded interesting so I kept reading.
The Web site states that “the name Soroptimist was coined from the Latin soror meaning sister, and optima meaning best. And so Soroptimist is perhaps best interpreted as ‘the best for women’.” Now they really had my attention.
The club sponsored the play “Jane Doe in Wonderland” about human trafficking at the Soper Reese.
According to the Lake County News the showing of the play has led to an investigation and arrest of a couple involved in human trafficking in Lake County.
District Attorney Don Anderson is quoted as saying, “In Lake County, human trafficking is starting to get a stronghold in the community and in the schools.”
The Soroptimist have played a major part in this arrest by sponsoring the play, bringing the issue to the forefront and providing education to the community about human trafficking.
I am proud to be counted as a member of the Clear Lake Soroptimist International Club.
Annelle Durham lives in Upper Lake, Calif.