The two main home help associations in Ardèche see the end of the year coming with cold sweats. They have been experiencing a structural deficit for a year. ADMR (home help in rural areas) and AAD (Ardèche home help) do not have their own income. They are financed by the national solidarity fund for autonomy (CNSA) and by the departmental council.
A salary increase not fully funded
A year ago, the salaries of home helpers were increased. A revaluation expected for many years by these employees who are largely paid at minimum wage. This upgrading in Ardèche costs three million per year. However, the CNSA gives a million and the department also a million. Remaining charge: one million.
Each hour worked increases the deficit of these associations which employ 1,600 employees and work with 12,000 beneficiaries, mainly elderly or disabled people in Ardèche.
A floor hourly rate
A deficit that occurs in a fragile financial situation. The department sets an hourly rate for the beneficiaries which includes the salary of the home helpers and the running costs of the association. In Ardèche, the department grants the floor price set at national level: 22 euros per hour. However, with inflation and the successive revaluations of the SMIC, this rate is no longer sufficient to cover the costs. By comparison, this hourly rate is 25 euros in the Drôme.
A departmental effort for new services
The president of the departmental council announced at the congress of mayors of Ardèche Thursday in Bourg-Saint-Andéol that the hourly rate would increase by three euros. The amount will be voted on December 9 during the budget review. But this increase will be used to finance new personal services and not to solve the structural deficit of the associations.