In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) is a social service that allows people who need long-term care to receive it in the comfort and safety of their own homes. In Del Norte County, approximately 420 IHSS workers provide long-term care services—including household work, personal care services, and paramedical services—to older adults and people with disabilities.
Click here to learn more about the essential long-term care IHSS workers provide.
Without our IHSS workers, thousands of our vulnerable neighbors would lose access to essential long-term care. Despite providing critical services, Del Norte’s IHSS workforce earns just $18.10 an hour. According to the MIT Living Wage Calculator, a single individual with no children in Del Norte County must earn $21.03 per hour to support themselves.
Del Norte IHSS workers are joining together to secure a strong contract that not only increases wages and improves benefits for workers but guarantees just, equitable access to long-term care for all who need it in our community.
Meet the Del Norte IHSS workers who will represent you at the bargaining table!
Katina Dixon has been a provider for 16 years, starting with her grandmother.
“We need to have higher wages and protection for us. Whether it was during COVID or the wildfires, care providers go beyond our job all the time. It’s hard work, but I enjoy what I’m doing – we need to take time to care for elders in the community. Del Norte is a good county, and we need our leadership to see that we need a higher wage.”
Susan Hubbard has been an IHSS provider for two years and currently takes care of her sister-in-law. This is her first time serving on a union bargaining team, but was she was active in the nurses union when she worked as an RN.
“Being a small town, we really need representation. We’re always looking for better wages because costs are going up – everybody needs a wage increase. Any benefits we can get would of course be helpful, seeing that we don’t have health insurance.”
Barbara Moran has been a provider for eight years and currently has three non-relative recipients.
“We definitely need a wage increase. All caregivers deserve more. We do RN-level work: we do meds, catheter work, physical therapy. We do multiple things for recipients and it saves the state and federal government lots of money to keep them out of facilities, and we should get a living wage. The more people we have with a loud voice who are honest and accurate about the things caregivers need, the more we can get those things.”
Teresa Schnacker has been a provider for over 12 years and currently takes care of her son who is has autism.
“I’m an activist who wants to do best for everybody. With food costs going up, I’d like to see our wages go up, too. I want to make a change and make sure we all get a fair deal. It’s not just for me, but for everybody.”