COOS BAY - The adult foster care system serves thousands of people across Oregon, but for many workers in the system it comes with some hardships.

However, now, with the help of the state, those hardships could be eased, thanks to Governor Kulongoski.

"Without support from our state, the adult foster home industry will become extinct. The Governor felt to keep that from happening, he had to let us be unionized, which was a protection for us,"says union delegate and adult foster home owner Steve Hebert.

With the assistance of SEIU 503, one of the largest unions in the nation, adult foster homes across the state will soon be unionized, making Oregon the first state in the nation to do so.

"SEIU 503 has divided the state up into regions, foster homes were brought together and elected a delegate for their region. Each delegate has been traveling to Salem since January working on a bargaining contract with DHS, which is our employer."

There are around 106 adult foster care homes in Coos County alone that serve everyone from seniors to the developmentally disabled.

"The foster homes are working on less than minimum wage. They're working 24 hours a day, seven says a week. Most people who run the homes don't have the ability to hire additional help or even get health care for their families," says Hebert.

Hebert and his wife Kathy own and run the home 'Kathy's Place,' and say becoming part of a union will help give adult foster care providers a voice.

"It will standardize the care of our clients, it will standardize the way we get paid."

But it's not just foster home owners that feel this way, at a recent union meeting District Nine Representative Arnie Roblan was invited to speak, and says he feels these homes don't get the recognition they deserve.

"I don't think the system is as organized as it should be. Most people don't even know that these facilities exist in the community. I think if more people knew about the services they were providing, more people would support them," says Roblan.

Hebert says with help from local and state representatives like Roblan, they will continue to build a voice for themselves.

He adds that a union contract could be finalized as soon as May or June.