NY Expands Universal Child Care Plan

NEW YORK, NY — Gov. Kathy Hochul and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced an expansion of child care services aimed at helping working families and parents experiencing homelessness.

The plan will create 2,000 free child care seats for two-year-olds in its first phase, with plans to expand to 12,000 seats next year and eventually provide a seat for every two-year-old in New York City within four years.

Officials said the effort is supported by a $1.2 billion state investment.

“Many New Yorkers are living paycheck to paycheck,” Mamdani said. “They cannot afford the more than $20,000 a year per child that it costs for childcare.”

The announcement took place at a family shelter operated by Women In Need in Manhattan.

Hochul said expanding child care access will help more parents enter or remain in the workforce.

“We have 700,000 open jobs across the State of New York,” Hochul said. “But if you don't have someone to take care of your children, it doesn't work.”

Officials said applications for the expanded program are expected to open later this year.