Supportive Services
Last year, AFSCME fought back attempts to cut funding that allowed a family member to care for a disabled relative at home. This year, the administration is back with new proposals that would compromise the care of our most vulnerable citizens. AFSCME is vigorously fighting to protect this crucial social service and to retain the vibrancy and charater of our communities across the state.In-Home Supportive Services and the May Revision:
Under the May Revision, the Governor proposes the complete elimination of the CalWORKs program on October 1, 2010, which would achieve a state savings of about $1.1 billion for the upcoming year. If this critical program is eliminated, more than 540,000 families would be forced to seek County General Assistance. Because counties are solely responsible for funding General Assistance, they could see an almost $2 billion dollar increase in costs as a direct result of the elimination of CalWORKs.
California counties and residents cannot afford this horrific cut!
In addition, the In-Home Supportive Service (IHSS) program, which provides in-home personal care services for nearly 460,000 individuals who are blind, over the age of 65, have various disabilities, or have incomes below $845 a month, would endure a $637.1 million cut (growing to $750 million annually after the expiration of stimulus funds) to these very important services.
This proposed drastic and debilitating cut to the IHSS program, to our elderly, and to the disabled, is not the answer to California’s budget problems. AFSCME is standing up to this Governor and this Legislature and fighting to save these social servies for those who rely on them the most.