In March 2025, The Center for New York City Affairs published a report highlighting the funding shortfall for the Child Care Assistance Program in New York City that over 60,000 children rely on. See the report here: 

Report Key Takeaways: 

• Funding Crisis: New York City’s Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) faces a $987 million shortfall in Child Care Block Grant (CCBG) funding, threatening access to child care assistance for thousands of families.
• Families at Risk: Without additional funding, tens of thousands of children could lose child care assistance each month, impacting working parents who rely on these services.
• Growing Demand: Reinstated work requirements for families receiving Temporary Assistance (TA) are expected to drive a surge in demand, requiring up to 67,000 CCAP vouchers by March 2026—triple the current allocation.
• Higher Costs: The average child care voucher is now nearly double what it was in 2019 due to increased market rates and fewer legally exempt providers, straining the program further.
• Long-Term Solutions Needed: The crisis is not a one-time budget issue—state and city officials must collaborate on sustainable funding sources to prevent ongoing disruptions in child care access for low-income families.

This is not just a New York City Issue: Three counties outside of NYC have closed enrollment to new families and families seeking to recertify; eight additional counties have indicated they expect to close enrollment by this summer.

THE EMPIRE STATE CAMPAIGN FOR CHILD CARE CALLS ON ALBANY TO INCLUDE  IMMEDIATE INVESTMENT FOR CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 BUDGET. 

PROTECT NEW YORK’S WORKING FAMILIES, CHILDREN, AND ECONOMY WHICH DEPEND ON THIS ASSISTANCE.