64% of LA County IHSS workers rely on public assistance with thousands teetering on the brink of homelessness
LOS ANGELES (July 8, 2025) — Amid a growing care crisis, Los Angeles County’s In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) workers, represented by SEIU Local 2015, are demanding action and respect after the County offered a $0 wage increase during ongoing contract negotiations. With more than 240,000 IHSS workers across the County, this essential workforce is calling out the devastating impact of low wages and the County’s failure to invest in the very people who keep its most vulnerable residents alive and safe.
“LA County is offering caregivers zero dollars—as if our work, our sacrifice, our care means nothing,” said Rachelle Lewis, an IHSS provider who lives in Supervisor Hilda Solis’ district. “More than 64% of us rely on food assistance like CalFresh, and yet we’re the ones feeding, bathing, and caring for LA’s seniors and people with disabilities. That’s not just an insult, it’s inhumane.”
Data collected by SEIU 2015 underscores the economic hardship IHSS workers endure:
- 87% of IHSS workers are forced to work multiple jobs to make ends meet.
- 64% rely on public assistance to put food on the table.
- Thousands are at risk of homelessness, with many providers reporting month-to-month housing insecurity.
- The average caregiver earns less than $23,000 annually, making it nearly impossible to live in LA County. According to MIT, the annual income in Los Angeles County required for 1 adult with no children is $57,841.
“We are the backbone of LA’s long-term care system and the County is balancing its budget on our backs,” said Mary Grace, a caregiver from Supervisor Lindsay Horvath’s district. “More than half of LA’s caregivers are struggling to pay rent and teeter on the brink of being homeless. Homelessness prevention starts with a livable wage. We should not be caring for others while fearing eviction ourselves.”
The IHSS program is a lifeline for over 285,000 low-income seniors and people with disabilities across the County. Yet, the workforce that powers this program remains the County’s largest low-wage sector.
“LA County publicly celebrates equity and care,” said Eleazer Hernandez , a caregiver in Supervisor Kathryn Barger’s district. “But when it comes to caregivers, the county is offering nothing. Not even a penny. Shame on you.”
IHSS workers have filled board chambers week after week, sharing personal stories of sacrifice, financial struggle, and unwavering commitment to those they care for. Still, the County has refused to put forward a meaningful wage offer.
Leilani Reed, a caregiver in Supervisor Holly Mitchell’s district, emphasized: “We are the safety net. We prevent hospitalization. We keep people alive in their homes. Yet, we struggle every day just to get by. We deserve a contract that reflects the work we do and the value we bring—not a zero-dollar offer that tells us we don’t matter.”
The demand by caregivers is clear: A new contract that lifts caregivers out of poverty and invests in the workforce LA County depends on to provide compassionate, life-sustaining care.“Our message to the Board is simple,” said Pearl Gonzalez, from Supervisor Janice Hahn’s district. “Don’t just say you support caregivers—show it. We’re not asking for charity. We’re demanding economic justice.”