Harris County parents can soon apply for free childcare

Houston, Texas (KTRK) – Harris County’s free child care program is set to start in a matter of days, and advocates say it couldn’t come at a better time as child care centers across the state are in crisis.

Sending your kid to childcare is too much for some parents.

“If you want to go to a better place and a better area, it’s $300 and up per child,” Paula Diaz explained.

Diaz said childcare costs are the reason she is home to spend her summer days at the library instead of working.

“It keeps you from trying to work, or to do other things,” Diaz said. “it’s hard.”

Harris County is looking for help. This month, a early access The program starts. The county uses $26 million in federal funds to cover childcare costs. If you live in the county, have a child under the age of four, and meet the income requirements, you can get free child care.

“There are a lot of child care deserts around Harris County, and we want to provide not just free child care, but quality child care,” said Frederick Goodall, a spokesman for Baker Ripley.

Advocates for this problem said at the state level. Texas Care Children’s University said a family of four spends nearly $20,000 a year on childcare.

During the pandemic, the state has spent millions on this cause. Funding has dried up.

During this past hearing, advocates for the law haven’t done enough to fund childcare.

“This funding would have supported the continuation of stabilization grants launched by the state during the pandemic that have been critical to keeping programs open,” said David Feigin, Texas Care Children’s Early Learning Policy Director, David Feigin.

Advocates said it was not just about the cost of childcare, but the wages of the workers. On average, they earn $11 an hour.

Without help, it can cause utilities to shut down. They say it’s a problem that’s already caused a childcare desert, especially in low-income communities.

“This means that they have to find alternative arrangements for their children and for some children, that means arrangements that are not of high quality or that children are stuck in front of a TV screen rather than reading, being a teacher and interacting with other children,” Feigen explained.

Without a job, parents don’t spend money. American Chamber of Commerce He said Texas loses $9 billion a year in revenue because parents don’t work. That’s money that could go to infrastructure, educators, and other state projects, which is why advocates say programs like the one the county will launch this month are important to all of us.

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