Care provider in Section 8 housing still says she has to “request hardship extensions on my bills, or choose which bills I can afford to pay at the time.”

All over California, caregivers are overworked and undervalued. Most of them are women of color. Most make less than fast food and warehouse workers. Right now, in an era marked by rising grocery, rent, and gas prices coupled with the Covid-19 pandemic, that’s not enough. Many caregivers are forced to find a second job, even though their caregiving is often more than a 40-hr. per week job.

Before becoming an IHSS home care provider, Kishan Williams of Long Beach, California, worked in a convalescent home for 13 years, and then as a hospital CNA.

“I’ve always enjoyed helping people feel better. And I love making sure they know they’re valued. When you’re sick, sometimes it affects your self-esteem. I learned a lot about making people feel comfortable at that hospital job. For instance, I had a Black patient who wanted her braids taken out, since they were matting. White nurses and doctors didn’t know what to do with it. With her permission, and an hour later, I took her hair out. Then I washed it and rebraided it into a fancy design, and continued helping out the patient, even when I wasn’t scheduled to see her. I really feel like that helped her feel nurtured and honored. I would want somebody to do the same for me if I was in their position.”

It was hard for Kishan to leave this job she loved. For one thing, she was able to pay her bills with the money she earned there. But in 2018, her older sister, who is partially blind and has an emotional disorder, really needed her. So, Kishan left her hospital job to care for her sister. And although she cares for her as many as 56 hours per week, she’s only paid for 32 of those hours. In a month, that can amount to nearly 100 hours of unpaid work.

Kishan wakes up at 7:00 a.m. every morning and heads to her sister’s house. She makes breakfast, gets her sister’s clothes out for the day, assists her with her hair, helps her with bill paperwork, gives her medication, takes her to medical appointments, and helps her run all of her errands. And again, this all mostly by bus, unless they can get rides from family and friends.

During all of this tender care, Kishan prides herself on knowing how to make her sister never feels like she’s somehow a burden to Kishan.

“I’m constantly stressing out over how I’m gonna pay bills.”

What is a burden for Kishan is her bills. She works so hard, but she barely gets by on her low IHSS wages. She’s a single mom. She and her four sons live in a Section 8 apartment while she waits to save up money to afford a larger apartment — and one that doesn’t require a public subsidy.

“I’m constantly stressing out over how I’m gonna pay bills. I have to request hardship extensions on my bills, or choose which bills to pay. The kids try to be patient, but we fight a lot about the lack of money. There’s no money for some of the things they want, like video games to play with their friends. It’s just not possible right not with what I’m making. I’m looking for a place right now, but I don’t have enough money saved for the move-in costs of first/last and a security deposit. I also don’t have a car at the moment, so I’ve been stuck on the bus while I wait for my little bit of car insurance to kick in.”

Hope for a better wage and brighter future…

Kishan remains hopeful. She pushes her kids to do better. She makes sure they understand the power of education.

“And I pray a lot. It’s my way of getting through all this. I’ve also been taking classes to become a pharmacy technician. It’s good-paying work, but it’s also just a stepping stone for me. My dream is to become a registered nurse before I turn 50. It’s gonna be a long road, but I’m making it there, slowly but surely.”

Kishan and other IHSS providers in LA County are speaking out and supporting their Union’s Time for $20 campaign to establish a living wage floor in the industry. Learn more at https://www.seiu2015.org/timefor20/.