I am a live-in homecare worker. That means I care for a consumer who needs my support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Without my help, she would not be able to take care of her basic needs like meals, getting dressed, cleaning, personal hygiene and transportation. It’s a demanding job, but one that’s extremely important.

Over the years, I’ve come to think of her as part of my family. I am very afraid of what will happen to us if the state cuts the 24-hour homecare program. My consumer doesn’t have resources to pay for care on her own. Instead, she would end up in a care facility. This change would mean the complete loss of her independence. She would no longer be able to decide her own schedule and live in her own home. And I would lose my job.

It’s so frustrating to see that the Legislature is considering eliminating the 24-hour homecare program in the name of “cost containment.” Facility-based care comes at a much higher cost to the state. Oregon won’t save a penny by upending our lives, but the cuts will hurt us and the tens of thousands of other people who participate in the homecare program. I’m at a loss for why the Legislature would do this.

As legislators work to address the budget deficit, I hope they will keep our story in mind. Tens of thousands of seniors and people with disabilities in Oregon depend on in-home care. We should be choosing to invest in this effective and cost-efficient program. The fact that we are considering cuts shows that we pay a high price for having one of the lowest corporate taxes in the country.