Center for Children's Initiatives

Early Care Fast Facts

In New York City...

Too many children live in poverty.

• Over half a million New York City children under the age of 17 live in poverty.
• About 150,000 of them are under the age of 5.

Quality early care and education is often unaffordable for working families.

• The average cost of infant care is now more than $19,000 a year, more than a wage-earner working for minimum wage can make in a year's time.
• The average cost of child care is easily the largest item - more than rent or mortgage payments for many families.

Quality early care and education is in short supply.

• More than 40,000 families are on waiting lists for subsidies to help pay for care.
• The shortage of care for children under the age of three is especially acute.  There is only one licensed slot for every five babies in need of one.