Non-profits and activists are trying to convince New York state lawmakers to invest in pay raises for home health aides at a time when the state has barely any money to invest.

Home health aides and home-bound residents who have been lobbying over the past week say a significant pay bump would keep independent people from being forced into nursing homes.

What You Need To Know

  • Non-profits have launched an intensive campaign supporting a hill that would raise the minimum wage for home health aides

  • Representatives for State Senator Michelle Hinchey and Assemblyman Kevin Cahill have said the lawmakers support the bill

  • The state budget will be shaped snd finalized over the next few weeks

“I’ve been trying to keep an aide ever since this pandemic,” said Sandra Moore-Giles, 75, who has been without a home health aide since mid-February.

Moore-Giles suffers from Lupus and arthritis.

She needs daily help, cooking and cleaning, and is approved through Medicaid for 21 hours of assistance each week. Through a state program, she hires her own home health aides, while Medicaid pays them.

But nowadays, she cannot get anyone to take the job, which pays minimum wage and offers no perks. Even Moore-Giles’ son could not stay on as her aide, though he still stops by regularly to check on her.

“He got a construction job that pays like $18 an hour,” she explained. “It helps him to pay his rent, gas and lights. I can’t afford him.”

Several non-profits and community groups and home health professionals who make up the coalition Caring Majority have mobilized during this year’s state budget session.

Last Friday in Kingston, the group rallied to kick off a week of action to support the Fair Pay for Home Care Act, which would raise the minimum wage for home health aides to around $20 an hour.

Caring Majority Organizer Julia Solow said her group has had more than 50 meetings with lawmakers, asking for the pay raise.

Solow said the raise would keep more workers in the field at a time when demand for home care in New York State is increasing, and improve the economy in the long term.

Representatives for Senator Michelle Hinchey and Assemblyman Kevin Cahill attended Friday’s rally to tell the group of about 20 that they will support the bill.

“We’ve found overwhelming support from our state senators and assembly members,” Solow said. “I think we can actually win this really important investment for New Yorkers.”

Solow referenced a City University of New York study whose authors wrote the substantial pay increase would create new income and sales tax revenue that would make the $4 billion investment worth it. They also wrote that the raise would lead more people to make home care their careers and ease the shortage. According to the text of the bill, the pay raise would go up anytime minimum wage goes up.

If passed, home health aides’ pay would be 150% of the state’s minimum wage, even as the minimum wage increases.

Until that would happen, Moore-Giles fears she will continue to attract new workers only for them to leave for higher paying jobs in construction and fast food service.

“It’s not easy trying to clean your home when you’re by yourself,” she said, laboring with a cane as she walked toward her car. “So I’m on my walker, doing whatever is it I need to do. I need help.”