Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani announced today that the City will make child care completely free for all families receiving child care assistance through vouchers and contracts across New York City. The policy will benefit approximately 22,000 low-income families who currently receive subsidized child care through the Child Care Assistance Program and pay a sliding-scale fee. Beginning in September, the Mamdani Administration will cover the $5.2 million in annual out-of-pocket costs those families currently pay for care. Funding has been baselined in the budget at $6.24M beginning in FY28.
"For thousands of families, a weekly child care fee means another bill they simply can't afford. Making that care truly free can make all the difference," said Mayor Mamdani. "As part of our promise to deliver universal child care, we are eliminating these fees for families receiving child care assistance across the city. No family should have to choose between staying in the city they love and affording care for their child. This is another step toward making affordable child care something every New York family can count on."
"The rising cost of child care is one of the single largest expenses facing families across New York," said Governor Kathy Hochul. "That's why I was proud to stand with Mayor Mamdani in January to announce that we would put New York on a path to universal child care. The State has since allocated $1.2 billion to support and expand the City's child care infrastructure, an investment that is already paying dividends for working families. This commitment is one more way we are putting money back in New Yorkers' pockets, putting families first and ensuring they have the resources they need to thrive."
"The Child Care Assistance Program has been a lifeline to thousands of families, but they still shoulder millions of dollars in out-of-pocket costs," said Emmy Liss, Executive Director of the Mayor's Office of Child Care and Early Childhood Education. "Thanks to Mayor Mamdani, we're putting money directly back into the pockets of New Yorkers. Child care costs should never be a barrier to a family's stability, and the Mayor has made delivering on that promise central to his administration. As we prepare to launch free 2-K this fall, we are making all publicly-funded care free for families."
"Making child care free for the thousands of families with ACS child care vouchers is another crucial investment the Mamdani Administration is making to support families and make New York City more affordable," said Rebecca Jones Gaston, Commissioner of the Administration for Children's Services. "With this child care truly free, families have one less worry, one less bill, and opportunities to invest in the futures of their children."
The Child Care Assistance Program provides subsidized child care for eligible children ages 6 weeks through 13 years old and through age 19 for children with disabilities. Funded through the State's Child Care Assistance Program, more than 100,000 children currently receive vouchers in New York City, while several thousand more infants, toddlers, and preschoolers access extended-day care through City contracts. The City is required to charge eligible families a fee on a sliding scale, which approximately 22,000 families currently pay. Beginning in September, the Mamdani Administration will cover these costs for all families, making their care completely free. Families who currently receive subsidized care will not need to take any additional action.
Today's announcement follows the submission of more than 5,700 applications for the City's first-ever free 2-K program, which will provide universal child care to families regardless of income or immigration status. Demand for 2-K was nearly three times the number of available seats, underscoring the need to expand access to affordable, high-quality care. Mayor Mamdani has made expanding child care access a priority of his first year in office.
In April, Mayor Mamdani announced that the City's 2-K programming would be full-day and full-year. The administration has also advanced work on the City's first free child care pilot program and opened seven previously vacant provider sites to create 240 additional 3-K seats, as part of a broader rollout of 2,000 new 3-K seats across all five boroughs.
"Every family deserves access to high-quality child care without having to choose between putting food on the table, paying rent, and making sure their children are cared for. This announcement is a meaningful step toward making child care truly accessible and affordable for working families across New York City. By eliminating out-of-pocket costs for approximately 22,000 low-income families receiving child care assistance, the Mamdani Administration is putting equity into action and recognizing child care for what it is: an essential public investment. I applaud Mayor Mamdani for ensuring that families receiving subsidies can access care without an additional financial burden, and I look forward to continuing the fight for a child care system that works for every New York City family," said Council Member Rita C. Joseph.
"When a family qualifies for subsidized child care, we already know that the cost of care is more than they can reasonably afford," said Council Member Gale A. Brewer. "Eliminating the remaining fee gets us closer to what child care assistance is supposed to accomplish: making quality care truly affordable. I thank Mayor Mamdani for taking this additional cost off the shoulders of 22,000 New York City families."
"New York City just became more affordable for 22,000 families who rely on the voucher system for childcare, but who still struggle to pay their fees. This is another significant step toward the goal of universal childcare, and will provide some much needed relief for these families. I thank the Mayor for this impactful initiative," said Councilwoman Kayla Santosuosso.
