The Quality Home Care Coalition of Santa Barbara County’s name says it all. The collection of community groups cares about quality home care. Members of the group include Congress of California Seniors, Independent Living Resource Center, AARP, and United Domestic Workers of America.
In response to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s revised budget proposal, the coalition will hold a public forum on July 18 at the Santa Maria Veterans Memorial at 313 W. Tunnel St. in Santa Maria.
The event starts at 10 a.m., and includes a panel discussion on the effects of the budget proposal on customers and providers of In-Home Support Services. The panel will also discuss the overall health of the community. Senators Abel Maldonado (R-Santa Maria) and Tom McClintock (R-Thousand Oaks), Assemblyman Sam Blakeslee (R-San Luis Obispo), Santa Maria Mayor Larry Lavagnino and the City Council, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors, and other elected officials have been invited to attend.
The coalition said in a news release that the governor’s attempts to close the state’s budget gap, to be considered by the Legislature in upcoming budget hearings, could impact thousands of Santa Barbara County residents. They include more than 10,000 low-income seniors and people with disabilities who could lose the state cost-of living adjustment for Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Payment cash assistance grants; about 2,500 who could receive fewer hours through the In-Home Support Services Program; almost 1,900 low-income children who could lose Medi-Cal coverage in 2008/2009; and almost 69,900 low-income Medi-Cal recipients who could have less access to services.
The forum offers a chance for community members to discuss and plan for potential challenges because of the proposed cuts.
For more information, call (626) 617-9982 or (619) 446-8654.
This week’s Community Corner was compiled by Executive Editor Ryan Miller. Send items for consideration to mail@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Jul 17-24, 2008.