Dear City and County Leaders,
On behalf of the San Mateo County Child Care Partnership Council (CCPC), the publicly appointed, state-mandated local child care planning entity for San Mateo County, and our partner Build Up San Mateo County, we are writing to encourage your city/county to include policies that support the development of child care facilities in your updated Housing Element. For working families with young children, having accessible child care near their home reduces traffic and commute times, and generally improves the quality of life for these residents. Including policies that are supportive of child care in or near housing is a straightforward way for cities to contribute to creating sustainable communities where families with young children can thrive. Your city/county’s Housing Element update provides an opportunity to address the housing and child care needs of all working families, while examining the housing and child care needs of special populations, such as single-parents and female-headed households, in particular.
High-quality child care is essential to families and to vibrant economic development, yet operators of potential new child care facilities face numerous barriers to opening new programs to meet community needs. While many of the challenges for child care facilities development are similar to housing, the child care sector lacks the mandates, financing sources or expertise that exist for housing developers. One of the biggest challenges is finding a location for a child care facility. Ideally, child care facilities are located in or near housing and close to family-friendly transportation options.
Housing affordability also affects the child care sector. In our high-cost area, family child care providers, those who provide licensed child care in their homes, may struggle to afford their rent or mortgage. As older providers retire, new providers cannot afford to buy homes in our communities. Those who rent a house or apartment often face business instability. In addition, child care programs across San Mateo County are struggling to hire enough workers – the child care workforce is predominantly low-income women of color. Many are struggling with their own housing needs.
In examining Housing Elements from throughout California, we have noted that a number of cities and counties have included goals and policies that support the development of child care in or near housing. We have compiled sample policies in the attached document in hopes that your city/county will include a number of them in your Housing Element update.
If you have questions or would like further support for connecting child care and housing in your city/county, please contact us: Sarah, 650-802-5647, skinahan@smcoe.org, or Christine, 650-517-1436, cpadilla@sanmateo4cs.org.
Sincerely,
Sarah Kinahan
Coordinator
San Mateo County Child Care Partnership Council
Christine Padilla
Director
Build Up San Mateo County
Attachments: Sample Housing Element Language to Support Child Care near Housing
Partner Organizations that Support Including Child Care Policies in Housing
Christine Padilla
Director, Build Up for San Mateo County's Children
Sobrato Center for Nonprofits – Redwood Shores
p. 650-517-1436
An initiative designed to preserve, grow and improve the supply of child care and preschool facilities in San Mateo County.
Read our Case Study: A Multi-Sector Approach: Childcare as an Infrastructure Priority
