Dear Editor, I began receiving Vermont support services at age 32. My case manager helped me move into 230 St. Paul Street, a Burlington Housing Authority high-rise for seniors and people with disabilities. For the first time, I had structure. I had support. I had stability. While living there, I had staff who helped me build routines. I was working with Transition II, a nonprofit organization that helps Vermonters with disabilities. I was comfortable with my staff, and I began forming friendships and building a life that I could enjoy. But even then, staff members never seemed to last long. I would get comfortable with someone. I would learn their personality. I would trust them with my needs. And then they would leave. When my services transitioned to the Howard Center, the cycle continued. I would finally adjust to a new support person — and then just as they learned my routines, my medical needs, my goals, they would leave. Then I would wait. And wait. For someone new to be hired. Trained. Introduced. This has become the cycle of my life. Now, in my 60s, my services are through Champlain Community Services. And once again, I face the same challenge of constant staff turnover. Every time that happens, I lose more than a worker. I lose privacy. READ MORE I have to retell my life story to a stranger. I have to explain my medical needs again. I have to share personal care details again. I have to rebuild trust again. And every time I start over with staff, my goals start over, too. Without consistent staffing, I cannot reliably prepare meals for the week. I cannot ensure transportation to medical appointments. I cannot grocery shop independently or consistently meet basic daily needs that most people take for granted. I rely on the organization assisting me to live a meaningful, fulfilling life — the kind of life others live without thinking twice. But when staff leave because they cannot afford to stay in this profession, my life becomes unstable. I am tired of constant change. I am tired of connections being taken away from me. I am tired of not having the same opportunities as others simply because the workforce supporting me cannot afford to remain in their jobs. This is not about inconvenience. This is about dignity. We need a change so that the people who support me can afford to stay, so I am not forced to keep starting over and over again. Stable wages create stable support. Stable support creates stable lives. And people like me deserve stability.  Natalie Sinkew, St. Albans, Vt. Read the story on VTDigger here: Natalie Sinkew: My support workers can’t afford to stay. I can’t afford for them to leave. ...read more read less