Intersection of Opportunity: Aligning Housing, Child Care, & Early Learning

Throughout the United States, for households with young children, housing and child care are the top two largest expenses, and Central Texas is no different. Even as housing costs have dropped from extreme highs in 2022, more than one-third of Central Texas households are housing and child care cost-burdened, meaning they spend more than 30 percent of their income on housing and 7 percent of their income on child care costs, respectively. At the same time, 57 percent of children from low-income families in Central Texas were not considered Kindergarten-ready compared to 35% of their peers from higher-earning households. Communities cannot deliver strong early learning outcomes without stable, affordable homes—and families cannot maintain stable housing without access to high quality early childhood education and child care opportunities that support work, wellbeing, and long term economic mobility.

While challenges remain, Austinites remain committed to addressing the twin issues of housing and child care affordability, approving $350 million for building affordable housing in 2022 and $75 million to expand access to child care and out-of-school time programs in 2024. Throughout Central Texas, place-based investments can integrate child care and early learning into affordable housing opportunities through cross-sector models, such as co-locating centers in affordable housing developments and expanding affordable child care opportunities in low and moderate-income communities. At the same time, home-based child care providers play a vital role in the care ecosystem, and need affordable and stable housing opportunities to deliver such care. To ensure their success, policies and investments must be aligned to increase available housing opportunities, expand accessibility for home-based care, and stabilize housing for existing providers.

This forum will bring together partners from across Austin and the Central Texas region to explore how policies and programs focused on advancing affordable housing, early childhood education, and child care can be integrated and advanced collectively to strengthen outcomes for children and families.

Info: "Building Futures: Connecting Affordable Housing and Early Learning"

Access to affordable housing and quality child care are deeply connected challenges for working families. When families are stretched by both housing costs and child care expenses, solutions that address only one side of the equation can fall short. Tackling these interconnected needs together can create a stronger foundation for family well-being and economic mobility. Integrating center-based early learning into affordable housing developments can reduce transportation barriers, expand access to care, boost learning outcomes for children, and support parents' ability to participate in the workforce. This panel will explore how housing developers, child care providers, and community partners can work together to integrate housing, child care, and early learning opportunities.

Info: "Where Care Lives: Strengthening Home-Based Child Care "

Home-based child care providers are a vital part of the early learning ecosystem, serving millions of children and expanding access to care for families who may not have opportunities nearby. Particularly in low-income communities, these small businesses offer affordability, trusted relationships, and flexible hours that help working parents, including shift workers, stay connected to the workforce. Investments focused on providing access to ownership and housing stability for these providers can collectively address housing affordability, economic resilience, and early education. This panel will explore how housing, financing, and policy can better support home-based child care providers, strengthening an essential source of care that helps children, families, and neighborhoods thrive.

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