Care providers and advocates tell supervisors IHSS needs higher pay and staffing to avoid gaps in in‑home care

Scores of in‑home supportive services (IHSS) providers, union representatives and recipients addressed the Solano County Board of Supervisors during public comment to urge a stronger contract for IHSS care providers and to highlight a worker shortage that speakers said is leaving vulnerable residents without necessary home care.

Speakers and claims Leticia Guzman, who identified herself as the chair negotiator for IHSS workers, told the board Solano County is home to approximately 6,237 seniors and people with disabilities who rely on IHSS and approximately 6,725 in‑home support providers who deliver that care. Guzman said more than a “little over 286,000 hours” went unused in 2024 because of unfilled shifts, and she urged the board to bargain wages and benefits that would make in‑home care sustainable and prevent avoidable harm to clients.

Several other providers described working multiple jobs to make ends meet, the difficulty of delivering round‑the‑clock or specialized care on low wages, and the risk that clients would lose care and be forced into institutional settings if staffing shortages continue. Speakers included longtime workers who said they had careers in care stretching decades and family members who provide care for children with special needs; many asked the board to support a stronger contract for IHSS workers.

Board reaction Supervisors thanked speakers and acknowledged the labor‑and‑service challenges described. No formal action was taken within the meeting’s business items; county staff and board members noted that negotiations were upcoming and that the board would be briefed as bargaining proceeds.

Ending: Several speakers asked the board to prioritize IHSS bargaining and to ensure that caregivers are able to both recruit and retain staff so that county residents can age safely at home.