California Counties Call for Higher Caregiver Wages and Report Drop in Homelessness

In Orange County, more than 48,000 in‑home supportive services (IHSS) providers rallied before the Board of Supervisors, demanding wage increases from the current $18.90 an hour and access to affordable health insurance. The United Domestic Workers union, representing over 250,000 California care workers, warned that the Board’s offer was insufficient and urged a new Memorandum of Understanding to retain qualified staff for the county’s growing senior and disabled population.

Meanwhile, Alameda County released its 2026 Point‑In‑Time count, showing a 13 % decline in total homelessness to 8,201 people and an 18 % drop in unsheltered individuals. County officials linked the reduction to Measure W, a sales‑tax funded homelessness‑prevention program, and to updates in the “Home Together” strategic plan aimed at expanding housing and services through 2030. The data highlighted city‑by‑city variations, with Oakland seeing a near‑20 % decrease while some neighboring cities reported modest increases.