An Op-Ed in the Napa Valley Register on Sunday by Becoming Independent CEO Cami Weaver put the State budget crisis in perspective for the some 1,100 individuals served by the Santa Rosa based service organization and the workers who provide those services.
Many of the people Becoming Independent serves are able to live independently thanks to the help of already very low paid “in-home supportive services” workers. These workers help people with disabilities prepare meals, bathe, and run their small households.
The governor suggests reducing state support for these indispensable workers to minimum wage plus 60 cents an hour for health benefits. How long can these workers survive on that income?
Becoming Independent is not a special case in this budget nightmare, although our cause is very special. Many other vital organizations that serve disabled people and others with serious physical, emotional and other challenges are facing funding shortfalls. So are public schools and higher education. So are our cities.
On a local level, much has been made of the cuts to service agencies, and the direct effect those cuts have on consumers. But often lost in the shuffle are the small armies of workers who dedicate their lives to improving those of others. From highly trained and accredited RN’s and OT’s all the way down the food chain to street outreach workers and in-home caregivers, these individuals are the vehicle through which services are delivered. Let’s not let them down!
For the complete text of the article, please click here.
