NYC to Invite More Than 10,000 Children to Apply for Vouchers

New York City will invite families with more than 10,000 children on its child-care voucher waitlist to apply for assistance, Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s administration announced Monday. The invitations are expected to begin in the coming weeks and continue on a rolling basis over several months, city officials said. The announcement addresses part of a backlog that officials have put at nearly 29,000 children. The city said the rollout will move more than 10,000 children into the application process, but that does not mean they have all been approved for vouchers. Families must still apply and meet eligibility requirements, and the number who ultimately receive assistance has not been established. One city account estimated that roughly 20,000 children could remain waiting after this round. The Child Care Assistance Program subsidizes licensed care for eligible children from six weeks through age 13. Children with special needs may qualify through age 19. Under federal requirements, the city prioritizes families with incomes below 300 percent of the federal poverty level, families experiencing homelessness and households with a child with special needs.