On Oct. 21 dozens of in‑person speakers and union organizers addressed the Board of Supervisors during public comment to press for a stronger contract and higher wages for In‑Home Supportive Services (IHSS) providers.

Multiple IHSS providers — several saying they have provided care for 10–26 years — described the work as essential for keeping older adults and people with disabilities at home rather than in facilities. Speakers quantified the program’s scale, saying it serves “more than 35,000 county residents,” and described financial strain: many providers reported working multiple jobs, delayed pay, difficulty affording basic needs and months‑long waits for background checks and provider numbers.

Representatives from SEIU Local 2015 and allied organizers asked the board to use every available resource to fund a fair contract with livable wages and timely payments. Speakers said a stronger contract would stabilize the caregiving workforce and improve continuity of care for recipients. An IHSS advisory board member described systemic delays in hiring and certification processes and asked for steps to shorten back‑pay cycles and improve benefit onboarding.

No formal county action or vote on IHSS funding took place at the meeting; the comments were recorded in the public record and multiple supervisors acknowledged the testimony and the broader workforce and budgetary pressures affecting county human‑services programs.