Latest update 06/24/2025 Monterey County home care providers rally at Board of Supervisors demanding livable wages and healthcare benefits.
On June 24th, Monterey County IHSS home care providers kicked off their contract campaign for livable wages and healthcare! Home care providers gathered at the Monterey County Board of Supervisors to deliver public comments on the need to invest in care to address the growing care crisis to attract and retain the care workforce with a strong contract. 2015’s members like Kristin Avendano and Veronica Benegas gave powerful testimony to address the issues around economics and spoke truth to power urging care to be prioritized for all home care workers county-wide.
“As a provider, I am on the frontlines of this care crisis. We would like to work hand-in-hand with you, our Board of Supervisors, to fix Monterey’s care crisis and build the Future of Care that the county is in need of. Getting Monterey caregivers a strong contract is a pressing issue and one that, with all due respect, cannot be allowed to remain on the back burner any longer. Here’s the thing: an investment in us, caregivers, would be an investment in ALL of Monterey County.” – Kristin.
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Latest update 05/16/2025 Standing Up for Caregivers in Monterey County
On May 16th, Monterey County IHSS providers held a Community Briefing hosted by our Executive Vice President Marcus Mc Rae, who spoke on the importance of the care crisis and the urgency for adequate healthcare and higher living wages to attract and retain the care workforce. Monterey members delivered a strong unified message of the day:
“Our communities cannot thrive without properly funding the caregiving infrastructure that supports them. Home care providers are essential workers. They are the individuals who care for our older adults and those with disabilities, yet too often they are undervalued and underpaid. That needs to change.”
As Monterey County IHSS providers enter contract negotiations with the Board of Supervisors, the need for real change starts with real investment to prioritize care.
Latest update 02/18/202 on Monterey County IHSS care providers held their first Board of Supervisors Action for their soon to expire contract.
On February 18th, Monterey County caregivers flexed their worker-power in their first Board of Supervisors action to raise their voices on livable wages. Their current contract is set to expire in April! Currently, Monterey caregivers earn $19.24 per hour, and we’ve recently launched our Economic Indicator Survey to understand the issues that impact workers in this county from economic, housing, healthcare to transportation. A livable wage for a single person in Monterey County is $34.16; add just one child to that household and it takes $56.70 to meet basic needs. In 2024, more than 405,181 authorized care hours went unused in Monterey County, indicating a shortage of caregivers.
Care workers are working diligently to ensure their voices are heard and their needs are addressed. Our fierce members know that the Monterey County Board of Supervisors need to invest in the Future of Care because it’s an investment in the community. Monterey County, it’s time to Put Care First!