is there such a thing as affordable daycare???

Question

i live in worcester county, MASS. i really need some child care vouchers, i have an 19 month old i really really cant afford to pay daycare.. does anyone know if its okay for welfare to just put you on a "waiting list" even though i'm going to go to school soon and financial aid is paying for everything?

i only have food stamps. so they say i can only be on a waiting list. is there even such a thing??

also.. i asked about rent vouchers because the website says i can get them.. and they're available and they said that they have no funds, is this just an excuse?

i dont know what to do, i need daycare regardless of if i work or go to school because my husband works all day. after paying rent we have 60 dollars to last a week.

i need some help. please.

also.. i have mass health and wic.. does anyone know if theres anything they can do before i look like a fool for calling them?

YOU DONT HAVE TO BE SO ******* MEAN.

look. i also have a mental disability and cannot seem to work as fast as everyone else.. so i have fired from every job.. that doesnt look good on an application on having no work experience because i obviously cant put those jobs down.. so the only things i have for jobs is house cleaning and babysitting. which i AM DOING NOW. I LOOK FOR WORK EVERY DAY AND I DONT ABUSE THE SYSTEM SINCE I'VE ONLY BEEN ON FOOD STAMPS FOR 2 WEEKS. I AM GOING THROUGH MASS REHAB, WHICH IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT HELPS MENTALLY DISABLED PEOPLE. BUT IT TAKES A WHILE TO GET A JOB BECAUSE I HAVE TO GO THROUGH TRAINING TO SEE WHAT FUNDS IS AVAILABLE TO WHATEVER CAREER I SCORE THE HIGHEST ON.

I AM GOING FOR THE TRAINING NEXT WEEK WITH THE HELP OF A FRIEND, BUT CAN ONLY DO IT THIS ONE TIME.

Answer 1

Nope- affordable LISENCED day care is very hard to come by. You can find small places here and there for about $120-$150 weekly but they aren't too reputable. At least that's the way it is in my area. However the state should help you with child care and until you get into one they will help pay for a baby sitter so if you have a sister or something that lives outside the household and needs a job or a friend you can trust you can get them to come and watch your kids and the state will help you pay for that. I'd say that the no funding for the vouchers is true. Sad but true- the governement simply doesn't have the money it used to. Why would you look like a fool for calling wic and mass health? They may know of some ways to help you. Try finding a service in your area called 8-cap. They're in most states and they really help out. Go to your department of human services and apply for assistance with rent, child care, food stamps (which you are already on but perhaps they will change the ammount for you) and finanacial assistance with misc. bills. Anything that you get denied for, bring your denial letter to 8-cap and ask for help getting things in order. They will most generally help you once a year (I volunteered there for a while and sometimes they help more but you have to be a special case). Good luck. :)

Answer 2

There's no such thing as affordable daycare if you are low income or a single parent looking for work.

A lot of places there are simply too many people and not enough money budgeted in the programs to help people. And the republicans want to cut the funds even more so even less people will get help and the waiting lists will be longer. Some areas have verrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrry long waiting lists for child care help and rent help. It depends on the area. IT is the system which is controlled by the government so there's not a lot you can do except put yourself on a waiting list. It doesn't matter your situation, they won't approve you until there are funds available.

Answer 3

We live in a society that helps itself. What I mean is if you need help don't go to DSS because they won't help you. Not unless you plan on using the system to live for the next 20 years and know how to work the system. I am figuring that out the hard way also.

My husband and I are returning to a 10 month program to get our LPN license and we can't get help if we wanted to. Not to pay for child care, rent, or the other outstanding bills that have occured since they said oh yeah come here on this day and well back date yo to this day. That never happened for me. Now I live in the state of NY and something may be different, but I have lived in Georgia, and Texas and had the same problem when it came to getting help for my family. I'm sorry to say but you can't pay for child care at $168 for and infant and $75 after school care for the other and make $9 an hour and raise a family. But that is what they expect. You work to pay for child care while the other stuggles to pay the bills.

I say welcome to the great opportunity of the great old USA.

Answer 4

You are being assisted in many ways already. You have food stamps, WIC, mass health care, and financial aid for school. You also have a husband who is working and provides the money for rent in the place where you are living. This is a lot more than a lot of other mom's can say. I think it's unreasonable that you now want assistance for childcare as well.

I think it's great that you want to further your education. It's going to help you out in the future as you can then expect better salaries. But, if you really want to take advantage of the education that's being provided for you, you need to make adjustments in your family to take advantage of that benefit.

Some options: Perhaps you could take classes at night, and dad can be the babysitter when he gets home from work.

If classes are only available during the day, then maybe dad could get a job at night and watch the baby during the day. He could get some sleep before work after you get out of school.

If this is not possible and daytime childcare is needed, then you must make adjustments in your family to bring in the extra money thats needed for the childcare. Dad might need to get a 2nd job to cover that expense and make ends meet. Or you might need to work part time (like on the weekends) to supplement the family's income.

It's tough, but many couples do it. You will both be working very hard but eventually you will make better $ which will help you to become less dependent upon government assistance. Don't you want that one day?

Answer 5

I have 3 kids, and both my husband and I work. he makes a fairly decent pay,( for our area) but after all the bills, we have not much left. if you get food stamps, AND have $60 left at the end of the week, consider yourself lucky. we are lucky to have $60 left to buy food with. I have found that I have to work a different shift than him, so time at the babysitter is limited to just the hour or so between when I go to work, and he gets home. I know that alot of schools have night classes, maybe you should look into it

Answer 6

Depending on where you are, yes they do exist but are pricey. I am a retired lady who does day care part time in a neighbors home for their little girl for just that reason. They couldn't find ANYONE in our area they could afford. You might go that route with a college kid or retired person who drives and can pick up your kid(s) from the regular day care and bring them home and be there with them when you get home.. Of course in a case like that tons of references or a must, etc.

Answer 7

Here in Illinois we have action for children and help low income families. You dont have to be on welfare to get on it just be low income. I would ask around at your pubic aid office and at your wic office if they might know of a program. Nothing wrong with a little assistance if I didnt receive assistance I wouldnt be where Im at today!

Answer 8

Daycare, to me, doesn't seem affordable. I don't know how families with more than one child afford it! Your best bet is to use a relative or trusted neighbor. Ask around to see if anyone may be interested. I ended up using a neighbor whose husband said she may be interested. I never met them before, but now I trust her as much as my own family with the care of my child.

Answer 9

Ask the gov for help they can help people who can't aford it my daycare is normally 116.00 a week and I only pay 44.00 a week the company is ccrn (child care resource network) i live in daytona beach florida though

Answer 10

Do you have a local YMCA with a day care? They will sometimes offer you a subsidized daycare.