Having to choose between child care and work is one of the most frustrating challenges parents face, and New York City is failing to support its residents struggling with this issue.
Many New Yorkers are working hard to build a better future for their children, but the lack of affordable child care forces them to cut back on hours or even leave their jobs.
In such an expensive city, relying on a single income isn’t realistic for most families. Since many parents have no choice but to work part time instead of full time, their career growth becomes stagnant.
Without strong child care support, this cycle will continue, holding families back from real financial stability.
This financial stability is only possible with the vouchers that make child care accessible to New Yorkers.
NYC’s childcare voucher program, which helps low-income families afford daycare, is at risk of collapsing due to a funding shortfall. The program, granted through the Administration for Children’s Services, expanded during the pandemic when work requirements were lifted, allowing more families to qualify.
However, with work requirements reinstated and funding running low, many families who previously benefited may soon lose access unless lawmakers in Albany allocate additional funds before the state budget deadline. Without this intervention, parents will struggle to afford childcare, forcing them to make difficult decisions about their employment.
According to the Citizens’ Committee for Children of New York, “more than 80% of families with children under 5 cannot afford child care in New York City.” Estimated annual costs by age indicate that the average cost for infants and toddlers ages 0-2 is over $20,000 and just under $17,000 for preschool children ages 3 to 5.
According to The New York Times, for a NYC family to meet the federal affordability standard suggesting that child care does not surpass 7% of total household income, it would need to earn over $300,000 annually to afford care for just one child.
NYC worker Doris Nazario has a 5-year-old daughter named Annika who goes to daycare every day of the week. In an exclusive interview with The Ticker, Nazario highlighted the impact that child care assistance has on a working-class family and emphasized that without it, she would not be able to work.
“I would have to lose some days from work, and other days I would have to ask friends and family for help, which is never a reliable option. I would probably end up losing my job from having to call out so much, or I might just have to change my job completely,” Nazario said. She added that childcare services help tremendously due to the city’s high cost of living.
NYC must urge lawmakers in Albany to protect the youth by allocating funding to childcare services.
