Parents across the country faced increasing child care costs in 2023. Many, especially women, had to leave their jobs because these costs became too expensive on top of rent, the usual bills, and other paid necessities. The challenge of finding accessible and affordable child care is not going to disappear this year.
Federal relief funding created during the pandemic to support more than 200,000 child care programs expired in September. As a result, thousands of preschools and child care centers across the country are projected to close this year. Many already shut their doors, leaving countless parents scrambling for alternatives.
Child care should be guaranteed, but corporations and their politicians make it clear that they prefer us emptying our pockets for such services. We can’t rely on them. It’s up to us to organize ourselves and demand a world where care for our children is not up for debate.
