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Concerns raised over childcare voucher reductions
3:11:16
ยท
108 sec
Council Member Restler expresses concern about potential cuts to childcare vouchers, citing information from ACS that 11,000 children may lose access to vouchers due to lack of state funding. OMB Director Jiha assures that they are working with the state to address this issue.
- ACS reported that between 4,000 to 7,000 families might lose voucher access
- Jiha states that they are in communication with the governor's office, assembly, and senate to prioritize this issue
- Restler emphasizes the importance of city funding for vouchers, referencing past city initiatives like the SCCF voucher
Lincoln Restler
3:11:16
Relatedly, on vouchers.
3:11:18
I'm very concerned about cuts to vouchers.
3:11:22
I believe ACS just recently informed child care providers would be losing that between 11,000 children will lose access to vouchers this summer, given a lack of state funding for child care block grant, CCBG funding.
3:11:39
In the past, when there had been reductions in state funding, the city stepped up, created the SCCF voucher, the special child care funded voucher, to ensure that families access the vouchers that they need.
3:11:51
Is this cut to four to 7,000 families on your radar?
3:11:56
What plans does the city have in place to ensure that families who need vouchers are able to get them?
Jacques Jiha
3:12:00
We are working with the state and to make sure this is a state program.
3:12:05
So we are working with the state, and we are in constant communication with not only the executive budget, the executive office, governor's office, but also the assembly and the senate.
3:12:16
It's very high on everybody's radar.
3:12:19
It's a priority, so we're working on it to ensure that doesn't happen.
Lincoln Restler
3:12:22
I I appreciate that.
3:12:23
I just wanna underscore, just a few years ago, the city was putting CTL in in a major way to ensure that families in need of vouchers could get it.
3:12:31
As a result of state funding, there is no wait list today.
3:12:34
But if we lose this funding, people who have vouchers now will lose them, and the wait list will grow.
3:12:38
So I hope the city is prepared to step up if we do not get the help we need from the state.
3:12:43
And, you know, I just have to say, as Robin Hood Robin Hood came out with a report last week, 25% of kids are living in poverty in New York.
3:12:51
That's the population of Miami or Minneapolis or Oakland that are kids that are in poverty in New York City.
3:12:57
And if we cut three k and we cut child care vouchers, it only gets worse.
3:13:01
Last question, if chair Brennan will allow.