Childcare was unaffordable for half of New Yorkers before pandemic

Child care is a vital resource for parents of young children and high-quality child care improves educational and economic outcomes in the long run. However, the Early Childhood Poverty Tracker data reveal the numerous challenges New Yorkers faced in finding affordable, quality care for their young children. Even before the COVID-19 crisis disruptions to child care were common and child care was unaffordable for half of New Yorkers. The pandemic has made it even harder for families to find child care that meets their needs and their budgets. As these challenges have only intensified and the child care industry struggles to recover, New York City will need to build a better and accessible care infrastructure so parents can return to work knowing their children are safe.

The Poverty Tracker is a longitudinal study of the dynamics of poverty and disadvantage in New York City. It is a joint project of Robin Hood and Columbia University. The Early Childhood Poverty Tracker is a survey of more than 1,500 New York City households with young children ages 0-3.