Emergency fund launches to help nannies and house cleaners during coronavirus pandemic
The coronavirus pandemic has shuttered businesses, schools, and restaurants for the foreseeable future. Some people will make it through the crisis thanks to telecommuting and paid leave, but many can't afford to stop working, even if that's what public health experts recommend.
Domestic workers are among those who are most at-risk for contracting COVID-19, the official term for the disease caused by the virus, and who are also unlikely to have access to paid time off. They're forced to make a difficult choice: stay home to prevent becoming ill while helping to "flatten the curve," or report to a job that potentially puts themselves and their community in danger.
That's why the National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA), an advocacy organization, launched an emergency relief fund to help support nannies, house cleaners, and in-home care workers during the pandemic. The NDWA hopes to raise $4 million to aid 10,000 workers.
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Financial support will be distributed through NDWA's Alia platform, which pools paid time off and insurance benefits for its members. NDWA expects to provide money for paid leave so that workers can care for themselves or loved ones. Funding will also provide house cleaners, who've reported trouble purchasing supplies , gain access to cleaning agents.
"Domestic workers are being forced to navigate this crisis alone and without a safety net," Ai-jen Poo, executive director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance, said in a statement.
"Donations to the Coronavirus Care Fund will provide emergency assistance to nannies, house cleaners, and home care workers who need help right now, giving them the stability they need to stay home and be a part of the solution to this crisis."
The NDWA said that many nannies have still been expected to work. House cleaners have reported numerous last-minute cancelations, with some saying their income has been halved. Home care aides, who often tend to elderly patients and those with chronic health conditions, continue to work despite their constant risk of exposure to coronavirus.
"Our own health depends on the health of the person next to us, and the person next to them," said Poo. "Times like these remind us how connected we all are. We believe people will appreciate the opportunity to show care for the people who care for us."
Topics Activism Health Social Good COVID-19
Rebecca Ruiz is a Senior Reporter at Mashable. She frequently covers mental health, digital culture, and technology. Her areas of expertise include suicide prevention, screen use and mental health, parenting, youth well-being, and meditation and mindfulness. Rebecca's experience prior to Mashable includes working as a staff writer, reporter, and editor at NBC News Digital and as a staff writer at Forbes. Rebecca has a B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College and a masters degree from U.C. Berkeley's Graduate School of Journalism.
