Lilly Seeks to Obtain Livable Wages for Community Care Program Workers

CHICAGO – In an effort to provide better wages to Illinois’ in-home care workers, state Rep. Camille Y. Lilly, D-Chicago, is sponsoring legislation to increase the hourly wage for frontline in-home care workers to $15 an hour, up from the current average wage of $10.98 an hour.

“Every worker in Illinois needs to be paid a fair and livable wage,” said Lilly. “For those who provide the very best of care to our seniors, they also need to be cared for, and that means raising their pay so they can afford to live and keep the job they love. People who care for our most vulnerable should not be forced to live in poverty.”

Lilly is fighting to pass House Bill 5609, which sets the hourly wage rate for Community Care Program (CCP) providers to $15 an hour by 2021. Lilly’s pay increase is meant to provide relief for both employees to stay as in-home care providers and for seniors to keep their provider and live independently. The bill is in response to attempts by Gov. Rauner to strip these workers of their jobs and seniors of their care in the hopes of cutting spending.

“I would like to express to the governor is the sense of community and trust that in-home care workers and the people they assist have created between one another over the years,” said Lilly. “By increasing these workers’ pay closer to a living wage, we can keep that sense of togetherness and not lose the bonds of humanity that we all could use more of these days. I’d urge the governor to work with me and the members of the General Assembly in providing better care for seniors and workers, not less.”

Lilly represents the 78th District, which includes parts of Chicago, Elmwood Park, Franklin Park, Oak Park, Melrose Park and River Grove. If you need to contact her office, please call 708-613-5939 or email her at StateRepCamilleYLilly@gmail.com.