New York City’s childcare subsidy program for pre-schoolers of low-income families and illegal immigrants is in danger of being scrapped. According to the Choke Beat report on the 19th, an educational media outlet, the ‘Promise NYC’ program, which supports childcare costs of up to $700 per week for preschool children from low-income families who are unable to receive federal support due to immigration status, is a new program by the city government.
According to the media, if the city council approves the budget bill submitted by Mayor Adams, the program will be suspended from July 1st. Promise NYC has been operating as a pilot program since January, and about 600 pre-schoolers are currently benefiting from it.
Last year, Mayor Adams publicized a plan to invest $10 million for early childhood education, but the new budget did not include additional budget for the extension of Promise NYC.
Mayor Adams has proposed a 3% cut in the education budget, citing rising costs related to asylum seekers. But advocates of the program urged the mayor and city council to budget $20 million for the extension. If the relevant budget is not prepared before the budget deadline, which is at the end of June, the program will be suspended from July.
According to the Department of labour, the average annual cost of childcare in Manhattan last year was more than $17,800. It is pointed out that it is not easy for undocumented families living in poverty.