Home-care agency shutting down due to recession.

[uppityperson]

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008375929_solidground11m.html

Home-care agency to shut down: "We've reached the end of a cliff"

After 29 years, one of King County's largest social-service providers is shutting down its in-home care division, a program said to pay the best wages in the state for such work. Solid Ground's 114 home-care workers will be laid off Dec. 31. They serve about 200 clients, who rely on the aides for help with daily activities such as eating, bathing, shopping and laundry. Those visits allow more people to live independently in their homes, rather than move to assisted living.

"It's just a symptom of a bigger problem," said Cheryl Cobbs, Solid Ground's executive director. "Nonprofits kind of operate on the edge, and we've reached the end of a cliff at this point."

Because of the economic downturn, the agency is anticipating fewer donations, Cobbs said. In addition, benefits costs have gone up, especially to pay for workers' health insurance. Government funding is also less secure. "When you add all of those things together, it's basically no increase, some decreases in public and private money, and a big hole to fill," she said.

Although the workers have been offered jobs elsewhere and the clients can continue to receive care through other agencies, some see the program's closure as a sign of the times. It was the first home-care agency to unionize and thus helped "set the bar" to boost wages and benefits for workers at other agencies, according to Cindy Schu, secretary/treasurer of the Office and Professional Employees International Union Local 8....(more@link)

[midnight]

1. There is a symtom of this problem... It has and always will be

greed.... In Denmark the taxes go to take care of the people. When was the last time Denmark waged a war?

[John Q. Citizen]

2. What do you mean greed? A non-profit?

[uppityperson]

3. Rather than spending the money on the war machine, spend it on health care.

Rather than making non-profits try to provide good care and a living wage, make all that be part of what is just normal rather than spending brazillions on those getting rich off the war machine.

[Diclotican]

4. midnight

midnight

Denmark was in war, on the loosing side of the Napoleon war, who ended in 1814...

And yes Denmark was also in war, between 1940 and 1945, when Germany was occupying the country... But have not been into war later...

Diclotican

Sorry my bad english, not my native language