Human Services wages barely livable

BOSTON, Mass. (WWLP) - Over 1000 workers from human services agencies rallied at the Massachusetts State House Monday, telling lawmakers that they’re barely making a living wage. Many earn an average of $12/hour.  While they’re handling difficult work, everything from therapy to children to care giving, they say it pays the same or better to work at a grocery store or gas pump.

“The secondary trauma that I’m dealing with and the things I have to go home processing at night, it almost doesn’t make it worth it.  I could just go to the grocery store and make as much as I’m working,” said Center for Human Development program director Ja’Net Smith of Springfield.

Since 2008, wages have been stagnant and the human services sector has gone from receiving $2.8 billion to $2.1 billion in state funding – a 25 percent decrease.  Direct care workers receive some of the lowest wages in the Commonwealth, which advocates say leads to increased turnover.

“I really love getting up in the morning and going to work and trying to make a difference, but it’s getting harder,” said Center for Human Development residential director Claras Nowden, also of Springfield.  “With the cost of living, you know, you’re taking on second jobs and it’s really getting harder to stay in human services.”

With the 2013 state budget coming up, human services advocates are asking lawmakers to restore funding to human services accounts as well as put in $28 million toward a salary reserve.  Advocates are hopeful that their requests are being taken seriously, after receiving a huge endorsement from Senate President Therese Murray.

“I will give you my commitment, whatever it is,” announced Murray to the crowd.  “[Human Services workers] care for people’s extremely personal needs.  They keep people alive, they keep people going to work, and the people who go to work actually pay taxes so you know they really deserve some dignity and some acknowledgement of the work they do.”

Though the Senate President said she was committed to raising wages for workers in human services, it would only be possible if the money is available, something she could not guarantee.