Evidence snapshot covering wages vs. cost of living, wage-bargaining history, Public Authority/County performance signals, available training (for completeness), and primary sources.

Wages vs. Cost of Living

• IHSS provider wage (current): $18.00/hr (2025 lists referencing CDSS; consistent with MOU schedule).
• Living wage (MIT, 1 adult / 0 kids): $22.84/hr (data updated Feb 10, 2025).
• Gap: −$4.84/hr (IHSS ≈ 78.8% of living wage)

County History of Fair Bartering for Wages

• MOU term (SEIU Local 2015): Effective upon approvals; remains in effect through Sept 30, 2026.
• Supplement framework: Base wage = state/federal minimum; prior +$0.50 ongoing supplement retained, plus a new +$1.00 supplement when approved (total +$1.50 over base).
• Union-announced schedule: $16.00 → $17.50 (Jan 2024) → $18.00 (Jan 2025) → $18.50 (Jan 2026), and first-time county investments in training/PPE.
• Recent baseline (state table): $15.50 (Jan 2022) prior to the current supplement structure.

Public Authority & County Support (Performance Signals)

• Orientation cadence: Most weeks, with monthly calendars circulated (MOU Article 9).
• Enrollment & payroll commitments: Timesheets issued within ~30 days after complete enrollment/clearances; payroll problems escalated if a paycheck isn’t received within 14 days of timesheet submission (MOU Article 12).
• PPE access: PA provides gloves, masks, sanitizer at no charge upon request (MOU Article 14); county PA page also advertises free PPE distribution.
• Advisory Board: Active IHSS Advisory Board (governance/voice channel; agendas via PA site).
• Public KPIs: No county-posted metrics located for average application→enrollment days, call-answer time, or payroll timeliness; rely on MOU commitments and state oversight documents until KPIs are published.

Available Training (for completeness)

• Budgeted training: $7,500/year for provider trainings administered jointly by PA and the union (MOU Article 11). Topics include universal precautions, infection control, CPR/First Aid, proper lifting, and dementia/mental health competencies.
• Supplemental materials: PA links to statewide IHSS education videos and tools (orientation/process, ESP/EVV).

Other Relevant Context

• Employer of Record: PA acts as Employer of Record and operates a caregiver registry (county PA page).

Sources & Links

• Current wage:
  IHSS Law — 2025 wage table;
  IHSS Advocate — county wages;
  official hub: CDSS County IHSS Wage Rates.
• Living wage:
  MIT — Humboldt County (updated Feb 10, 2025).
• MOU document:
  Humboldt PA & SEIU 2015 MOU (PDF) — Articles 6 (wages), 9 (orientations), 11 (training), 12 (enrollment & payroll), 14 (PPE), 18 (term through 9/30/2026).
• Union updates:
  SEIU Local 2015 — Humboldt TA post.
• PA operations:
  IHSS Public Authority — Humboldt County.
• Recent baseline:
  State IHSS rate table (2021–22).