Public Employee Press

More union parents eligible for child care subsidies

In the child care subsidy program, union members who meet the financial eligibility standards pay no more than 10 percent of their income for child care. Union families in the program save substantial sums compared with “market rate” care.

District Council 37 is part of the NY Union Child Care Coalition, which fights for state funds for the subsidies.

“Due to the overwhelming demand from members who need the services,” explained Moira Dolan, an assistant director of DC 37’s Research Dept., additional funds have been made available to extend the project time frame and to include members who live or work in the eligible Bronx zip codes: 10458, 10460, 10461, 10462, 10465, 10466, 10467, and 10469.

For applications, members should call Michael Kent at 212-929-4608, ext. 226.

About $3 million will also be available for the Brooklyn program, which is expected to open in the late spring for members who live or work in these zip codes: 11206, 11212, 11213, 11216, 11221, 11233, and 11237. Members should watch for enrollment events at their work locations or contact Jocelyn Mazurkiewicz at 212-809-3619 ext. 19.

Plenty of funding is still available for enrollment in the Liberty Zone in Lower Manhattan. Eligible members who live or work below 14th Street should contact Cindy DesAnges at 212-809-3619, ext. 11, for applications.

To take advantage of this benefit, your income must be below $34,348 for a family of two, $43,092 for a family of three, $51,838 for a family of four, and $60,583 for a family of five.