IHSS is more than a paycheck. It’s a lifeline for over half a million Californians — older adults, people with disabilities, and families — to live at home with dignity. For caregivers, it’s both work and a calling. For recipients, it’s the difference between independence and institutional care. IHSS is also a community: a network of people sharing struggles, victories, and the belief that compassionate care matters. Though often invisible to the wider public, caregiving holds enormous social value.