PUBLISHED 8:37 PM ET Jul. 28, 2021 PUBLISHED 8:37 PM EDT Jul. 28, 2021 SHARE The COVID-19 pandemic placed both physical and mental stress on health care workers across the state, but even before the pandemic struck, many of these workers were already battling low wages and understaffing. Agnes McCray, who lives in Syracuse, says home care has allowed her to remain in her home, but recently, her home care provider of 14 years had to leave her position since she could no longer afford to live off of sub-minimum wage. “What my worker provides me, you can't pay enough,” McCray, who is also the Access and Independent for All (ARISE) president said. “Just to know that they can't even make basic minimum wage, it's really tragic.”