Family childcare providers in Massachusetts rallied on the steps of the State House Tuesday to call for higher wages. They say home-based childcare businesses are at risk of closing because of low wages and higher out-of-pocket expenses.
Childcare providers say they’re spending more money on food, utilities, school supplies and even insurance. Meanwhile, enrollment has dropped as families struggle to pay for childcare and the state voucher program has been frozen.
More than two dozen unionized childcare workers gathered to urge the governor to fund a 3% reimbursement rate increase for providers who care for children eligible for state financial assistance. Rates have only increased 1.5% over the last two years, according to SEIU Local 509, which represents over 3,000 family childcare providers.
State vouchers that help low-income families pay for childcare have been frozen for over two years — and that has impacted enrollment, according to Celina Reyes, the president of the family childcare chapter of SEIU Local 509.
Reyes, a childcare provider for 20 years, said her enrollment has gone down — from 10 kids to only six.
“ We cannot survive with six versus 10,” said Reyes, of Lawrence. “The reason is because they don’t put funding to help our working families.”
Reyes said it’s hard to maintain her staff of three and keep her doors open without that funding. She’s also taken on another job at a nonprofit to cover her expenses.
“There are tens of thousands of children waiting for childcare, and the state needs to fund this,” said SEIU Local 509 president Dave Foley. “They have funded this in the past. They need to invest in this critical infrastructure.”
Childcare provider Elena Peña of Hyde Park is also facing higher costs and lower enrollment. She said her monthly insurance costs went up by more than $100. Right now, she has 10 children enrolled, but half of them will leave to start school next month.
“I don’t have any waiting list or anything,” Peña said. “Without the vouchers, not everybody can pay private for childcare.”
Peña will likely have to cut back hours for her assistants. And she is at risk of having to close her doors.
“ I am really scared,” Peña said.
The union’s contract with the state expired in June. Foley said he hopes to see some financial offers from the state soon.
