10,000 Kids in NYC Waiting for Child Care Vouchers

Every weekday by 6:30 a.m., Naomi Veerasammy and her 2-year-old daughter leave their Jamaica, Queens apartment, heading to a friends or relatives home where her daughter will be watched for the day. Veerasammy, a paraprofessional at a public elementary school, depends on a network of friends and family who provide care for little to no compensation so she can make it to work on time via the city bus.

With a monthly income under $2,000, Veerasammy cannot afford the typical full-time day care, which ranges from $1,500 to $2,000 per month. Finding someone to watch my daughter every day is extremely challenging financially, mentally, and physically, she explained, emphasizing the need for stability for her child.

Seeking more reliable child care, Veerasammy applied for state-funded vouchers that provide roughly $300 weekly for children up to 13 from low-income households. Although she met the income requirements, new enrollments were paused in May, placing her on a waitlist that has now grown to 10,000 children. Experts say this backlog highlights both the growing child care affordability crisis and the limited reach of current public funding.

The voucher shortage also endangers small child care providers. Andrea Davilar, who runs a family child care program in St. Albans, Queens, currently has only four of her 12 full-day spots filled. She believes many families are waiting for vouchers before enrolling their children. It feels like theyre trying to push us out of business, she said. We are the backbone of the workforce.

The city cannot afford to lose such providers, especially as incoming Mayor Zohran Mamdani aims to expand universal child care, relying heavily on home-based programs. Some experts suggest that addressing the voucher waitlist should be a first step toward broader child care reforms. Economists note that providing vouchers to the 10,000 children on the waitlist would effectively create near-immediate free child care for many city families.

Vouchers can be used at licensed child care centers or with approved relatives and friends. They are vital for children under 3 who are ineligible for the citys free 3-K and pre-K programs, as well as for families needing care outside standard school hours. Separate city-funded programs offer limited free spots for children under 2, but roughly 40% of these were unfilled last year, partly due to lack of awareness among families.

City officials cite rising costs due to voucher popularity, increased voucher value, and the growing number of families required to receive subsidized child care under federal welfare programs. The program will need $2.9 billion from the state next year, $1.8 billion more than usual, while covering all waitlisted families for a year is estimated to cost $155 million.

The voucher program expanded dramatically after pandemic-era adjustments. Eligibility widened to families earning under 85% of the state median income, and voucher values nearly doubled, boosting enrollment from under 9,000 in 2022 to almost 70,000 this year. This surge created a major funding shortfall once federal relief ended, forcing the city to place new applicants on a waitlist that has now reached 10,000.

Families on the waitlist face significant financial strain. Milana Kochishvili, a Brooklyn mother of two, struggles to pay for after-school care costing $800 monthly on a $72,000 salary, after her husband was diagnosed with Alzheimers. Kimberly Watson, a single mother and hospital caseworker, is on the waitlist for a voucher, while paying $450 a month for private after-school care, leaving her behind on rent and utilities.

For Veerasammy, relief may come partially from a proposed $10,000 annual bonus for paraprofessionals, but she expects it to go toward debt repayment, leaving her still in need of a child care voucher.

Author: Sophia Brooks