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Local IHSS caregiver urges supervisors to raise wages to keep caregivers in Siskiyou County
Summary
A 71‑year‑old IHSS caregiver told the board she cannot afford gas to travel for work at current wages and urged the supervisors to reconsider IHSS pay so caregivers can live and work in the county.
Alyssa Fox, a 71‑year‑old In‑Home Supportive Services (IHSS) worker, told the Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 24 that current IHSS wages force caregivers to consider leaving the community.
"As an IHSS worker in Siskiyou County, I am limited to working in Juan Rico because I cannot afford the cost of gas to commute to jobs in Southern Siskiyou County," Fox said, explaining a roughly 35‑mile trip to Mount Shasta is not financially possible on the wage she earns.
Fox said many IHSS workers in the Yreka area work two jobs simply to survive and that local job opportunities are limited. "Paying caregivers so little that we are pushed to consider leaving our communities is not sustainable nor is it fair to the workers or the clients who depend on us," she told the board, and urged supervisors to "reconsider IHSS wage levels so caregivers can afford to live and work in the communities that they serve."
Why it matters: the testimony frames a retention and access issue for county residents who rely on in‑home care. Fox said caregivers can earn more in neighboring counties, which can lead to worker shortages locally and reduced continuity of care for clients.
Board reaction: the chair thanked Fox and moved on to the next speaker; the transcript records no immediate board action on wages but public testimony establishes the issue for potential future agenda consideration.
