I’m writing to you today as an In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) caregiver and a deeply concerned resident of Santa Barbara County. With our pay contract discussion on the 19th fast approaching, I urge you to consider the stark and frankly, insulting, contrast in recent pay increases between the Board of Supervisors and the essential IHSS caregivers.

In February 2025, this Board approved a 48.8% salary increase for yourselves, boosting your annual pay from approximately $115,000 to $171,000. This substantial raise was justified by comparing your salaries to those in other counties, acknowledging that you were “lagging seriously behind.” And that’s fair – when you’re underpaid, you correct it.

But what about us? IHSS caregivers, who provide critical, often round-the-clock care for our most vulnerable residents, are being offered a proposed raise of just $0.33 on an $18.67 wage. That’s a meager 1.77% increase. To put that in perspective, the Consumer Price Index for the West Region rose 2.7% in the last year (June 2024–June 2025). This means your proposed raise actually puts us 0.93% behind inflation, causing us to lose purchasing power.

This situation is made even more egregious when we compare Santa Barbara County’s IHSS wages to our neighbors, especially given our high cost of living. When you, as Supervisors, were underpaid, you took action to correct it. When IHSS workers are underpaid—significantly so, compared to our peers in surrounding counties, and especially relative to our cost of living—the proposed action only makes our financial struggle worse.

We are asking for fairness and a wage that truly reflects the vital work we do and the real cost of living in Santa Barbara County.

I’m writing to you today to highlight the severe disconnect between the proposed IHSS wage and the actual cost of living in Santa Barbara County. As an IHSS caregiver, I’m deeply concerned about the financial viability of continuing to provide essential care under these conditions.

Our current wage of $18.67 per hour is simply not enough to live on in this region. The MIT Living Wage Calculator estimates that a single adult in Santa Barbara County (with no children) needs approximately $32.10 per hour ($66,793/year) to meet basic living expenses. Furthermore, a new state report defines the low-income threshold for a single adult in Santa Barbara County as about $98,850 per year.

This means that even if an IHSS caregiver works full-time, they earn barely enough to survive, falling squarely into the “very low income” category. The proposed $0.33 increase to $19.00 per hour does little to close this gap; in fact, it represents a loss in purchasing power due to inflation.

How can we be expected to provide compassionate, consistent care when we’re struggling to afford rent, food, and basic necessities in the very community we serve? Our financial stability directly impacts our ability to remain in this critical role.

I urge you to consider these real-world economic pressures when discussing our pay contract on the 19th. Providing a living wage for IHSS caregivers is not just an act of fairness; it’s an investment in the stability of our care system and the well-being of our community.

I’m writing to you today not just as an IHSS caregiver, but as a parent providing constant, dedicated care for my son here in Santa Barbara County. I want to share a glimpse into what caregiving truly looks like, as it is often misunderstood and profoundly undervalued.

My son has Coffin-Siris Syndrome, a rare condition with a likelihood of 1 in 100,000, meaning there are no local specialists or community support to lean on. His complex needs include seizures, Crohn’s disease, non-verbal autism, and severe developmental delay. He has no sense of depth or understanding of self-preservation or danger, leading to a constant elopement risk that requires vigilant, around-the-clock monitoring.

At 24 years old, he still wears diapers, doesn’t chew effectively, and requires a pureed diet. Most profoundly, he hasn’t slept through the night in 24 years, necessitating continuous, active monitoring throughout every single night. This is not casual or companion care; it is skilled, intensive, and often physically demanding labor that is required 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

While I am paid for approximately 70 hours of work per week, the reality is that I work a total of 140 hours or more. This massive disparity means countless hours of essential, skilled labor go uncompensated. Many other caregivers in Santa Barbara County also deal with complex family members who require extensive hours beyond their paid allocation. This vital, round-the-clock commitment is what keeps our loved ones safely at home and out of more costly institutional settings, saving the county and state significant money.

Yet, despite this profound dedication and the critical nature of the care I provide, the current IHSS wage of $18.67 per hour forces me, and many other dedicated caregivers, into a constant struggle to make ends meet.

I urge you to see beyond the statistics and recognize the profound human effort, love, and sacrifice that goes into this work. Our commitment to our loved ones is unwavering, and we ask for a wage that allows us to live with dignity in the community we serve.

Following my previous message about the realities of IHSS care, I want to bring your attention to a critical, yet often overlooked, aspect of our work: the vast number of “hidden hours” that go unpaid. While the IHSS program allocates a specific number of paid hours, the actual time and dedication required to provide comprehensive care for individuals like my son far exceeds this.

As I mentioned, I am paid for approximately 70 hours of work per week, but the reality is that I work a total of 140 hours or more. This massive disparity means countless hours of essential, skilled labor go uncompensated. Because my caregiving responsibilities are truly around-the-clock, it’s impossible for me to take on another job to supplement my income. Many other caregivers across Santa Barbara County face the same challenge, dealing with complex family members who require extensive hours beyond their paid allocation, leaving no room for other employment.

This combination of poor hourly wages and the inability to work more hours makes it impossible for us to be self-supporting. It feels as though the system relies on the profound dedication and love we have for our family members, expecting us to stay no matter how low the wage. This is a system that takes advantage of our commitment, pushing us to the brink. As inflation continues to increase, we are being forced to consider options we have worked so hard to avoid, jeopardizing the very care our loved ones depend on.

Ignoring this reality not only exploits caregivers but also undermines the stability of the entire IHSS program, as dedicated individuals are forced to leave due to financial strain, despite their deep desire to continue caring for their family members.

We urge you to acknowledge the full scope of the work IHSS caregivers provide and ensure our compensation truly reflects a living wage that allows us to live with dignity in the community we serve.

Today, I want to address a critical, often overlooked consequence of being an IHSS caregiver: the significant long-term financial penalties we incur by choosing to provide essential in-home care. While our work saves the county immense sums, it simultaneously jeopardizes our own financial futures.

For most in-home caregivers, we are allowed to opt for a tax-exempt status on our income. This is presented as a way to qualify for Medi-Cal, which for many of us, is our only affordable access to healthcare, given our significantly low wages. While California does offer other healthcare options, purchasing into them would mean less money for rent, less money for food, and less money for other basic necessities.

This isn’t a genuine choice; it’s a devastating trade-off. By not having taxable income, we are not paying into Social Security, leaving us with no retirement benefits from this demanding labor. Despite working 70 hours a week, which should typically qualify someone for health insurance, the state effectively avoids this cost through this very strategy. We are caught in an impossible bind: if we were to start paying taxes to build Social Security, we would immediately lose our Medi-Cal eligibility and be forced to purchase expensive private health insurance, further eroding our already meager income. There is no viable alternative to this path. We are gambling that the minimal money we must have to survive now will not compromise our future.

This system, which relies on our dedication, effectively penalizes us for providing the most compassionate and cost-effective care possible, pushing us towards poverty in our own later years. It feels as though our profound love and commitment to our family members are being taken advantage of, expecting us to stay no matter the personal cost.

We urge you to consider these long-term financial consequences. Investing in a living wage for IHSS caregivers is not just about immediate relief; it’s about ensuring a dignified and secure future for those who dedicate their lives to caring for our most vulnerable.

I’m writing to you today with profound concern regarding a significant oversight in the recently approved Santa Barbara County Master Plan for Aging 2025–2030. While this plan aims to be a comprehensive roadmap for supporting older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers, it inexplicably excludes the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program.

This exclusion is not just an administrative error; it’s a critical misstep that ignores the reality for thousands of our most vulnerable residents. There are 5,484 residents in Santa Barbara County who rely on IHSS for their daily care, enabling them to live with health, safety, and dignity in their own homes. These individuals, and the caregivers who serve them, are precisely who this plan is meant to support.

Furthermore, IHSS is consistently the most cost-effective public care solution in the county, saving millions of dollars annually by preventing more expensive institutionalization. Ignoring a program that serves such a large, vulnerable population and provides such significant financial benefit fundamentally undermines the very goals of health equity, care access, and financial responsibility that the Master Plan claims to address.

How can a comprehensive plan for aging and disability effectively serve our community when it fails to even mention the program that provides the majority of in-home care? This omission sends a message that IHSS providers and clients are not a priority.

I urge you to rectify this oversight immediately. IHSS must be explicitly included in future strategic plans, funding priorities, and all discussions related to aging and disability services in Santa Barbara County.

Today, I want to draw your urgent attention to a looming crisis in Santa Barbara County’s care system: the growing demand for in-home care is rapidly outpacing a shrinking caregiver workforce. Without immediate action on wages, this imbalance threatens to collapse the very support system our most vulnerable residents rely on.

The demographic trends are clear and undeniable. By 2030, one in four Santa Barbara County residents will be over 60. Looking further ahead, by 2060, our 65+ population is projected to double. This means the need for IHSS caregivers will only intensify dramatically.

Yet, despite this escalating demand, our caregiver workforce is shrinking at an alarming rate. A staggering 33% of IHSS caregivers leave the program annually. This high turnover means that thousands of authorized care hours across the county go unfilled, leaving vulnerable individuals without the essential support they need.

The reason for this exodus is simple and directly tied to our compensation. Low wages push dedicated caregivers into poverty, forcing them to quit or take second jobs just to survive. As I’ve highlighted in previous emails, the current $18.67/hour wage is not a living wage in Santa Barbara County, and the proposed increase doesn’t even keep pace with inflation.

My story is one of thousands. Santa Barbara County will inevitably lose caregivers like me, who are committed to providing essential care, if our wages do not reflect the true cost of living and the critical nature of our work. This isn’t just about fairness; it’s about preventing a profound care crisis that will impact countless families and strain county resources.

We urge you to recognize this critical demographic and workforce challenge and take decisive action to raise IHSS wages to stabilize our vital care infrastructure.

Today, I want to present a compelling financial argument for raising IHSS caregiver wages: it is not an expense, but a strategic investment that will save Santa Barbara County millions of dollars annually. Our work directly prevents far more costly institutionalization, making IHSS the most fiscally responsible care solution available.

Consider the stark financial reality:

• Institutional care for one individual averages approximately $120,000 per year.
• Home care via IHSS, on the other hand, costs around $75,000 per year.

This means that for every resident who can remain in their home through IHSS, the county and state save an estimated $45,000 annually.

With 5,484 residents currently relying on IHSS, and 80-85% of that care provided in the home, the collective savings are immense. If just 100 residents avoid institutionalization each year due to the availability of stable, quality IHSS care, that translates to $4.5 million saved annually for the county.

Investing in a living wage for IHSS caregivers directly supports this cost-effective model. Higher wages lead to lower caregiver turnover, ensuring more consistent and reliable care. When caregivers are more stable and less burdened by financial stress, they can provide better, uninterrupted care, which in turn reduces the likelihood of health crises that could force clients into expensive emergency room visits or long-term institutional care.

Raising IHSS wages is a clear win-win: it provides dignity and greater stability for essential caregivers, and it safeguards the county’s budget by sustaining the most economical care option for our vulnerable population.

Today, I want to ask you to consider In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) caregivers in a new light: as essential infrastructure for Santa Barbara County. Just like our roads, schools, and emergency services, the care we provide is a fundamental pillar that supports our community’s health, stability, and well-being.

When we talk about infrastructure, we often think of physical structures. However, the human infrastructure that enables our most vulnerable residents to live safely and with dignity at home is equally, if not more, critical. We are the frontline workers who ensure that thousands of elderly, disabled, and medically fragile individuals receive the daily support they need.

Our work directly:

• Prevents system collapse: Without IHSS, countless individuals would be forced into institutional care, overwhelming our healthcare facilities and county budget.
• Supports public health: By providing consistent, personalized care, we reduce ER visits, prevent hospitalizations, and manage chronic conditions, alleviating strain on the broader healthcare system.
• Contributes to economic stability (with a critical caveat): For some families, IHSS enables other family members to remain in the broader workforce. However, for many primary caregivers like myself, the round-the-clock nature of our IHSS work prevents outside employment, making fair wages for our direct care even more critical.

Yet, despite this vital role, IHSS caregivers are paid wages that force us into poverty, leading to high turnover and a shrinking workforce. This is akin to neglecting our bridges until they crumble, or underfunding our schools until they fail. A strong community requires strong infrastructure, and that includes a stable, fairly compensated caregiving workforce.

Investing in IHSS wages is not merely a social program; it is an investment in the foundational infrastructure of Santa Barbara County. It’s about recognizing our work as critical to the fabric of our society.

Today, I’m writing to you to underscore the critical importance of public accountability in how Santa Barbara County prioritizes and allocates its funds, particularly concerning the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program. As a taxpayer and an essential caregiver, I believe the community deserves clear transparency on these financial decisions.

We’ve seen the Board of Supervisors approve a substantial 48.8% salary increase for yourselves, citing the need to catch up to market rates. Yet, when it comes to IHSS caregivers, who provide indispensable services that save the county millions annually by preventing institutionalization, we are offered a raise that doesn’t even keep pace with inflation.

This stark contrast raises serious questions about the county’s priorities. How are public funds being allocated, and what metrics are truly guiding these decisions? When the county benefits immensely from the cost-effective care provided by IHSS, yet proposes wages that force caregivers into poverty and threaten the stability of the program, it demands a clear explanation.

The residents of Santa Barbara County, especially those who rely on IHSS and their dedicated caregivers, deserve to understand how their tax dollars are being used and why essential services like ours are being systematically undervalued. We are asking for more than just a wage increase; we are asking for a commitment to fairness, equity, and responsible financial stewardship.

I urge you to demonstrate true public accountability by prioritizing a living wage for IHSS caregivers and ensuring that the allocation of county funds reflects the genuine needs and contributions of all its residents.

Today, I want to appeal to our shared sense of community and moral responsibility. Beyond the economic arguments and logistical challenges, supporting In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) caregivers with a living wage is fundamentally a moral obligation and a reflection of our county’s core ethics.

We, as IHSS caregivers, provide care for Santa Barbara County’s most vulnerable residents—our elderly, our disabled, and those with complex medical needs. This work is not merely a job; it is an act of profound dedication, often driven by love for family members, and it allows these individuals to live with dignity and safety in their own homes.

The current wage of $18.67 per hour, and the proposed increase of only $0.33, which falls behind inflation and forces caregivers into financial precarity, sends a deeply troubling message. It suggests that the immense value of this work, and the well-being of those who perform it, are not truly prioritized. How can we, as a compassionate community, allow the very individuals who provide such essential, intimate care to struggle to afford basic necessities in the county they serve?

Fairness dictates that those who contribute so significantly to the public good should be able to live with dignity. Our work prevents suffering, saves public funds, and upholds the values of a caring society. To deny IHSS caregivers a living wage is to undermine these very principles.

I urge you to consider the moral weight of this decision. Prioritizing a fair wage for IHSS caregivers is an opportunity to affirm our community’s commitment to justice, compassion, and the fundamental right to live free from poverty, especially for those who dedicate their lives to caring for others.

Today, I want to bring to your attention a critical aspect of IHSS care that is often overlooked: the profound toll it takes on the health and safety of caregivers themselves. Our dedication to our loved ones comes at a significant personal cost, one that is exacerbated by inadequate wages and the relentless demands of the job.

The nature of IHSS work involves constant physical and emotional strain. We are frequently engaged in tasks that lead to physical injuries, from lifting and transferring individuals with mobility challenges to managing complex medical needs. For caregivers like myself, who provide around-the-clock supervision for someone who hasn’t slept through the night in decades, the lack of rest is a chronic and debilitating issue.

This isn’t just about feeling tired; it’s about the long-term risks to our own well-being. Chronic sleep deprivation, physical exertion, and the immense stress of being constantly “on call” contribute to serious health problems over time. We are sacrificing our own health and future to provide essential care, often without the means to access adequate healthcare or build a financial safety net for ourselves.

It’s a cruel irony that those who prevent institutionalization and save the county millions are pushed to the brink of their own physical and mental endurance, with little recognition or compensation for this sacrifice. Our ability to continue providing compassionate, high-quality care is directly tied to our own capacity to remain healthy and resilient.

I urge you to consider the human cost of these conditions. Investing in a living wage for IHSS caregivers is not just about financial fairness; it’s about protecting the health and safety of the very individuals who serve as the backbone of our community’s care system.

I am writing to you today as Mary Bouldin, an In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) caregiver in Santa Barbara County. I want to address a critical misconception: the assumption that IHSS caregivers are uneducated or lack professional skills. This is a profound misjudgment of a highly capable and dedicated workforce.

Many IHSS caregivers, myself included, bring significant professional experience and education to this demanding role. Before becoming an IHSS employee, I earned a college degree and worked in a profitable career as a graphic designer. For me, this was not a step up, but a conscious, albeit crushing, choice to prioritize my son’s well-being. I gave up my career and life plans because it was the right decision for my family, not because I lacked other options.

My son, Tom, has Coffin-Siris Syndrome, and his needs are extensive and relentless. He experiences seizures and other complex health issues, requiring frequent doctor’s visits, specialized anesthesia dentistry, management of his VNS (Vagus Nerve Stimulator), and regular bloodwork. He still requires diaper changes, doesn’t chew effectively, needs a pureed diet, and most critically, hasn’t slept through the night in 24 years, requiring around-the-clock monitoring.

I am a single parent, and I have nobody else to help me. I am the sole provider of care for this young man, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This level of care demands immense skill, patience, and unwavering commitment.

The current IHSS wage of $18.67 per hour, with a proposed $0.33 increase, simply does not reflect the immense responsibility, the skilled labor, or the professional capabilities that many of us bring to this role. It exploits our dedication and love for our family members, pushing us into financial precarity despite the critical public service we provide. This wage perpetuates the false narrative that our work is unskilled, when in reality, it is complex, demanding, and invaluable.

I urge you to look beyond assumptions and recognize the true caliber of the IHSS workforce. Our collective commitment keeps our most vulnerable residents safely at home and saves the county millions. It is time for our compensation to reflect the true value of this essential, life-sustaining work, acknowledging the professionalism and dedication of every caregiver.

I am writing to you as Mary Bouldin, an IHSS caregiver for my son, Tom. While I am grateful for the 10 hours of paid care per day, I must bring to your attention that the nature of my work extends far beyond the basic home care tasks for which I am compensated. This is not a job where I can simply “sit around and watch soap operas”; it is a complex, demanding, and highly skilled role for which the responsibilities never end. The current compensation structure fails to account for this reality.

The 10 hours a day I am approved for include a significant amount of uncompensated administrative, logistical, and advocacy work that is essential to keeping my son healthy and safe. It is this work—the work of a case manager—that the county is currently receiving for a rate intended for other tasks.

For example, my son, Tom, takes nine different medications, which requires constant vigilance and proactive planning. I have to manage three different CVS pharmacies to acquire all of his essential medicines. When there are communication breakdowns between doctors and pharmacists, I have, on multiple occasions, had to drive to Oxnard or Santa Maria to secure an emergency refill—a significant, unpaid time commitment.

The logistical coordination for his health is a full-time job in itself. My son has four doctors: a GP, a gastroenterologist, a neurologist, and an anesthesia dentist. I am responsible for scheduling, preparing for, and transporting him to all of these appointments, in addition to regular bloodwork and immunizations.

Furthermore, I have to act as a supply chain manager for his basic needs. Tom has specific dietary restrictions—no dairy or gluten—and because he cannot chew, a great deal of my time is spent preparing his food. I also source the soybeans for his special soymilk from a national company that delivers them to a local storage unit, which I then have to collect myself. This is a complex logistical task that requires significant time and effort.

To add to this, we were recently given a new wheelchair for Tom that is finally large enough for him. However, the chair is too big for my car. To get it in, I have to put down one of the back seats, open the back hatch, and open a side door to move it into place. This is a heavy, bulky, and difficult three-part process that puts a tremendous physical strain on me every time we have to leave the house. A newer, used car that could accommodate the chair would solve this problem, but my current income simply does not make that possible.

This work is relentless and requires unwavering dedication, especially when I am sick. When my son and I both had COVID, I was still on the clock. While every other family member was incapacitated, I was responsible for Tom’s diapers, feeding, and medications. This is not a job for the weak; I perform these duties while often sleeping only 3 to 5 hours a night, all while maintaining a kind and loving parental presence.

We are not just hands-on care providers; we are scheduling coordinators, medication managers, supply chain specialists, and tireless advocates. The 10 hours a day I am compensated for require expertise that far exceeds the current pay rate. I urge you to consider the full scope of our responsibilities and reevaluate the compensation structure to reflect the true value of all that we do.

I am writing to you today to shed light on a crucial, and often overlooked, aspect of my role as an IHSS caregiver for my son, Tom: the significant mental and emotional toll of the work. While the approved 10 hours a day are meant to cover basic physical care, they completely fail to account for the psychological burden of a role that demands constant vigilance and advocacy. This is not just a personal struggle; it is a well-documented public health crisis with a direct impact on the quality of care provided.

A substantial body of research shows that family members who provide care for individuals with chronic or disabling conditions are themselves at risk. The psychological health of a caregiver is negatively affected by providing care, with studies consistently reporting higher levels of stress, anxiety, and depression among caregivers. Between 40-70% of caregivers have clinically significant symptoms of depression, with a large portion of those meeting the criteria for major depression.

From my own experience, this is not a coincidence. The relentless pressure of managing my son’s nine medications, coordinating with four different doctors, and constantly being on high alert to his needs has contributed directly to my own struggles with complex PTSD and anxiety. Caregivers are often referred to as “hidden casualties,” and I am evidence of that. The medical literature points to events like witnessing a loved one’s health decline as trauma-inducing, which can lead to conditions like Acute Stress Disorder and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). My daily life, characterized by a state of constant readiness and the stress of managing a complex care regimen, is a textbook example of this.

This psychological burden is compounded by a profound sense of “ambiguous loss”—the grief that comes from caring for someone who is both here and gone. This is a common experience for family caregivers and can lead to complicated grief disorders.

The mental and emotional strain is not just an inconvenience; it has direct physical consequences. Caregivers show diminished immune responses, increased stress hormones, and a higher risk of serious illnesses like heart disease. The lack of support and the low compensation force me to endure these health risks, all while being responsible for my son’s well-being.

The current system acknowledges the physical work of caregiving, but it fails to recognize the mental and emotional labor that underpins it. This is a public health issue that should be a priority. Keeping family caregivers healthy and able to provide care is key to maintaining our long-term care system and keeping people out of institutions. The health of the caregiver is the single most important factor in a family’s ability to provide sustained, in-home care.

I urge you to consider this information and acknowledge the full scope of our work. Caregiving requires a healthy mind as much as a healthy body, and the current compensation structure fails to support either.