New York, NY—Yesterday, NYC Mayor Eric Adams announced that low-income, undocumented families will be eligible for childcare vouchers, as the City is investing $10 million in its new “Promise NYC” program. “Promise NYC'' will partner with four community-based organizations to administer the program. Three of the organizations selected, Chinese-American Planning Council, La Colmena and Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation, are member organizations of the New york Immmigration Coalition This will provide free or low-cost child care to families with children who are 6 weeks to 13 years old.
Liza Schwartzwald, Senior Manager of Economic Justice and Family Empowerment, New York Immigration Coalition:
“Access to childcare allows New York families, local communities, and our city’s economy to function. Children – regardless of immigration status – need quality early childhood education and care to thrive, and families rely on childcare to work, go to school, and so much more. For too long, immigrant New Yorkers who lack legal status have been unable to access federal and state subsidies for childcare. Newly arrived asylum seekers have also had difficulty accessing childcare, exacerbating the challenges of integrating into their new city. By investing $10 million in ‘Promise NYC,’ New York City is giving all New Yorkers a greater opportunity to build their lives without sacrificing their financial welfare or the stability of their family. We thank NYC Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, NYC Mayor Eric Adams, NYC Comptroller Brad Lander, and NYC Council members Tiffany Caban and Shahana Hanif for championing inclusionary and accessible childcare. We look forward to working with the Administration and all of the community-based organizations involved to ensure that ‘Promise NYC’ is a successful program, and will be advocating for its expansion in the years to come.”
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