Today I am Thankful for the Women taking care of my brother Stephen at his Group Home Residence and for all the Ladies and Gentlemen who are Direct Service Providers. These poor folks are seriously underpaid. Actually they would make more working at Walmart or McDonald’s!! Because of the low pay they are leaving the field in droves! On the little money they make they cannot support themselves or their families.
Not everyone can take off for International Women’s Day. If you are on Facebook instead Please read my below posts regarding BFair2DirectCare. Support the Workers who care for developmentally and intellectually disabled children and adults. Because of the extremely low pay workers are leaving the field. What will I do on the day that there are no workers to care for Stephen? How will other family members cope?
If you live in New York please call, write or email Gov. Andrew Cuomo to add COLA increase to the Direct Care Providers paychecks. We who live in New York know how expensive it is to live here. I know I’m barely making ends meet and I make much more money than the staff who take care of my brother Stephen every day. Direct Care Workers/Direct Service Providers need a New York Living Wage!!
For those of my readers who live outside the USA now you see that America Does Not properly take care of it’s disabled population. Nor do they care for the Homeless especially the mentally ill homeless many of whom are Women. Because of my work schedule I walk the streets and ride the subways late at night and early in the morning. At 1:00 am there are women and men sleeping in cardboard boxes on the streets. Both Women and men are sleeping on the subway platforms and inside the subway cars. Because of the high rents homelessness in New York is on the rise. Same problem with Homeless Veterans but I’ll leave that for another post.
America ~~ A nation that ignores the needy and feeds the greedy.
Espiritu en Fuego/A Fiery Spirit 
What a lovely photo of you guys excellent post as always
Thanks.
Such a powerful post. Even in Canada where I live, our tax dollars get spent on so much of the wrong things! It’s important to bring these topics / issues to the lime light. Thanks for sharing.
People are protesting but our government is not listening. I’m not looking forward to the future. I might have to take an early retirement in order to step in and care for Stephen. Only the rich and wealthy get the care they need in America. Sad situation that is getting worse day by day.
My heart breaks.
Me too.