HARRISBURG, PA – June 10, 2025 − Today, State Senator James Malone rallied with colleagues, the United Home Care Workers of PA, and patients in the Capitol rotunda to support Governor Shapiro’s proposed investment in participant-directed caregivers.
The $21 million investment in participant-directed caregivers within Governor Shapiro’s proposed budget would help attract, retain, and sustain a skilled workforce. It would raise wages for more than 8,500 care workers—who currently earn an average of $13.50 per hour in Pennsylvania—fund paid time off for the first time ever, and allow more people to self-direct care.
“We need to see this through—and we’re not backing down—because participant-directed home care isn’t just about providing excellent care, it’s about who we are,” said Senator Malone. “In Pennsylvania, we take care of our neighbors, and we make sure the people who take care of our most vulnerable neighbors can take care of themselves.”
Direct Care Workers (DCWs) assist people with disabilities in living independently. These workers care for adults with disabilities who choose to direct their own care rather than go through an agency. Participant-directed home care is the most direct and fiscally responsible way for individuals with disabilities to receive assistance and maintain independence because no taxpayer dollars are spent on agency overhead, advertising, or taken as profit for their owners.
Governor Shapiro’s common-sense $21 million proposed investment would leverage an additional $27 million in federal matching funds to address the direct care workforce shortage by raising wages and providing access to sick time and health insurance.
Senator Malone was joined by several colleagues and advocates on the Capitol rotunda steps:
- Sen. Vince Hughes
- Sen. Nick Miller
- Rep. Jess Benham
- Rep. Ismail “Izzy” Smith-Wade-El
- Joselyn Padilla-Gonzalez, participant-directed home care worker
- Krysten Xanthis, participant-directed home care worker
- Christal Spivey, agency worker
- Thomas Bowman, care consumer
The full recording of the event can be viewed here.
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