Increase wages for homemakers

Increase wages for homemakers

State Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie) has called on Gov. Ryan to raise the Living Wage for homemakers who assist the elderly. Lang, along with homemakers and senior citizens, held a press conference in the Thompson Center on Monday to address the governor's recent budget proposal.

Under the proposed budget, Gov. Ryan would "freeze" the current homemaker wage at $6.07 per hour. Lang finds that inconsistent with other state-funded agencies that assist citizens.

"The group of people who assist the developmentally disabled received a raise," Lang said, noting that the program is assisted through the Department of Human Services. The Department of Aging homemakers that assist homebound seniors will receive no increase, according to Lang.

"Ryan has frozen them at wages that guarantee them a life of poverty," he said.

Lang also stated that the Homemaker Industry, which employs a large number of Blacks, makes it difficult for them to raise their own families.

"How do these people take care of their families?" Lang asked.

"We have made their lives difficult by having them live below the poverty line."

Lang has asked the governor to compromise his $50 billion budget and raise the "Living Wage" to $8.20 per hour. In addition, he requests that homemakers receive adequate health insurance.

"More than 35,000 Illinois seniors, who depend on state-funded homemakers to avoid much more expensive nursing and home care, are in jeopardy under Gov. Ryan's proposed budget," Lang said.

In addition, he said the recent budget relegates more than 17,000 homemakers to a life of poverty, although they are hard workers doing a job many would oppose.

"These workers bathe, clean, cook, dress and shop for frail seniors so they can live at home or with their families."

Bumping up the Living Wage for homemakers, Lang believes, would only cost the state $57.2 million, still well below the the Department of Human Services Minimum Wage rate.

"Ironically, the governor's proposed payment rates fall far below the Department of Human Services' Minimum Wage rate for people moving off welfare," Lang said.

"With most of these homemakers still qualifying for Medicaid, rather than Welfare to Work, Gov. Ryan is creating `Work to Welfare.'"

The Ryan Administration negates those charges. Wanda Taylor, deputy press secretary for the Governor, said that Ryan has not frozen any homemaker wages. In fact she said they received an increase within the last two year. "The Governor has not frozen the wages. There is just no money for an increase," she said.

Taylor said that the state provides funds to state-programs like the Dept. of Aging who find agencies that contract homemakers. Taylor said the state provides $10.56 per homemaker, up from $9.55 two years ago, from which contracted agencies pay them roughly 73 percent of those funds for their salaries and benefits.

"The Governor doesn't think [wages] should be increased," Taylor said, concerning the assessment of the care-providers who assist the elderly disabled.

"The direct care for the elderly disabled is a much needed service so they can continue to live independently," she said.

"They provide a vital service and we are working to see an increase in their salaries."

But Lang said that this type of apathy from Ryan's office speaks for itself.

"This speaks volumes about the Ryan administration," Lang said.

"It's a matter of priority. It's about taking resources and prioritizing their expenditures."

Lang said after visiting over 92 counties, education and healthcare has been a primary concern with citizens in Illinois.

"What would the Ryan administration response be if all the homemakers quit tomorrow?" Lang asked rhetorically.

"Where would we put them (elderly)? How would we staff the nursing homes?"

Lang said it would cost the State far more millions of dollars to adequately house the elderly in nursing homes than to properly take care of them in their own homes.

"All of this information belies the fact that the people who do this type of work are really suffering," he said.

Lang also battles with the lack of hospitalization home-makers receive. Lang points out Ryan's proposed budget would neglect to provide funding for insurance which would only cost the State $17.8 million.

"Homemaker agencies are losing out to McDonald's and Burger King," Lang said.

"Agencies are simply unable to recruit, train and supervise sufficient workers to deliver quality in-home care to our State's most vulnerable and deserving citizens."

Lang hopes a compromise would amend the budget to increase homemakers wages and provide health insurance in exchange for homemaker agencies remaining in the state-funded program. Several providers have already dropped out of the homemaker program, Lang cited and believes dozens more will follow.

"More will be forced to quit without a rate increase," Lang said.

"So to avoid wrecking the Homemaker Program, the wage rate increase and health insurance should be part of the final budget package."

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