As New York's aging population grows and nursing homes prove dangerous for seniors during coronavirus, home care work is in high demand. But seniors and people with disabilities are struggling to find home care workers, because the job pays under $12 an hour across most of New York. Care work is essential for elders and New Yorkers with disabilities to live and age safely and with dignity in their homes and communities. Yet because of the low pay, home care workers are leaving the workforce in droves right when we need them most — and forcing many seniors to live in dangerous nursing homes instead of receiving care at home.

As New York faces an economic recession and a global pandemic, we need to create new jobs and stave off widespread unemployment. If the state starts paying home care workers a living wage, these jobs will be filled immediately because of the high demand. Home care workers are also primarily women of color and immigrants — two communities that are historically underpaid and deserve full wages and benefits.

New York State can protect seniors, create jobs for New Yorkers and rebuild our economy by paying home care workers a just wage.