Press release - Federal Lawsuit Filed To Stop Cuts In Homecare To 130,000 Californians

Disability Rights California, San Francisco, CA - Advocates for seniors and people with disabilities today filed suit in federal court in Oakland to prevent impending cuts in the "In-Home Supportive Services" program, known as IHSS. The class action lawsuit is filed on behalf of four low-income Californians who need IHSS to remain safely at home. The plaintiffs include two children with disabilities who need special care, an 81 year old senior who needs IHSS to remain in her apartment, and a young man with autism and bi-polar disorder whose IHSS provider assists him with basic tasks.

The cuts in IHSS services are scheduled to take effect November 1, 2009. At least 40,000 people will lose services entirely and an additional 97,000 will have their services cut sharply. Among the services to be cut are help with cooking, food shopping, cleaning and assistance to medical appointments - cost-effective services which frail seniors and those with disabilities depend on to avoid more costly placement in institutions such as nursing homes.