 Microloans Mean Better WAGES for Women—By Sara Wolcott Published: February, 2006  Claudia Zamora, co-owner of Natural Home Cleaning in the East Bay, uses eco-friendly products. Ivette Melendez has seen her life transformed by wages: not just money, per se, but an organization, Women's Action to Gain Economic Security (WAGES), that has afforded Bay Area women freedom they never imagined. Originally from El Salvador, Melendez rose from a janitor working for low pay (and little respect) to an outspoken, upstanding leader in her community. She not only holds a good job, but actually owns part of the business. Melendez credits her success not only to WAGES, a decade-old nonprofit that helps low-income Latina women in the greater Bay Area establish environmentally friendly housecleaning cooperatives, but to State Treasurer Phil Angelides, who has substantially expanded California's microlending program. The program, CalCAP (short for California's Capital Access Program) helps businesses get on their feet with loans of as little as $500. Such loans can make a huge difference to small businesses, and it certainly did to WAGES. WAGES found a niche market, and its three eco-friendly cooperatives — Emma's on the Peninsula, Eco-Care in the South Bay, and Natural Home Cleaning in the East Bay — are flourishing, thanks to receiving several CalCap-generated loans. That's helping not only California's economy, but also Californians' health. A Cleaner Alternative in the Residential Cleaning Industry The work of most residential housecleaners is often isolating, sometimes degrading, and frequently hazardous to the cleaners' health. Working without support, many women assume a servile demeanor with their clients. Cleaning products, when use on a regular basis, can cause birth defects, and cancer, and can weaken respiratory systems. WAGES coop members, however, earn 50 to 100 percent more than they would make working for a conventional cleaning company, because they co-own their businesses. On average, their household incomes have increased by up to 75 percent. Veronica, who works for Eco-Care Professional Housecleaning, tells of the impact this has had on her life. Before WAGES, she never earned more than $8 per hour. Now she earns $13 per hour. "First, I was able to buy a car, and, recently, a house in Gilroy!" she boasts. WAGES is on the cutting edge of "greening" the residential cleaning industry. WAGES calculates that the three coops will prevent the release of 4,000 pounds of hazardous materials to the environment in 2005. They are transforming the working lives of their housecleaners who are, in turn, changing their private lives. Claudia, a founding member of Eco-Friendly Cleaning in Oakland, formerly used toxic cleaning chemicals such as bleach all day long. "I would leave work with headaches, allergies, and feeling really tired. I felt really bad all around. Now I don't use chemicals and I'm really happy with my work. I even use natural products at home." Veronica, from EcoCare, experienced the health benefits of working with safe products during her second pregnancy: "I felt safe working because I knew I wasn't using toxic products. I have learned to value my health." California Helps Small Businesswomen After extensive education in fiscal literacy, eco-friendly cleaning techniques and cooperative work during a year of training, women receive a loan to start up a new cooperative. According to WAGES' Executive Director Hilary Abel, "Each of our cooperatives has had a start-up loan from Lenders for Community Development (LCD). We have had invaluable support from LCD; it has been a fantastic partnership." LCD receives its monies through the CalCAP program. That means that small businesses, such as WAGES cooperatives, can more easily get start-up loans or loans to help businesses that are struggling to survive or grow. Angelides' office estimates that since 1999, more than 2,500 CalCAP loans, totaling more than $500 million, have been made to California businesses through 34 lending institutions. The result: the creation or preservation of nearly 17,000 jobs. "The smallest businesses often have the hardest time accessing capital, yet they serve as the economic engine of our state — adding new jobs every day," said Angelides. "Helping these small businesses grow strengthens California communities over the long term and contributes greatly to our economy." | ||
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