A website for finding affordable daycares and nannies has been created in New York.

The New York City Teachers Union (UFT) has unveiled a new website – NYC Childcare Navigator»It works as a digital matchmaker, connecting parents and childcare providers. Gothamist tells more about the new online service for New York City parents.

Since last year, the service was only available to members of the United Federation of Teachers (UFT). Now it has been opened to all New Yorkers.

"Living in the Big Apple is challenging enough. We understand how much a family's life can change when access to quality, safe childcare is available," said UFT President Michael Mulgrew.

Childcare options in New York City remain complex and expensive. There are private, residential, early childhood centers, and public Action80% of families struggle to afford full-time care. Meanwhile, many providers are operating at minimal profits and are forced to close.

Childcare as part of the affordability crisis

Experts say access to childcare is a key part of the problem. accessibility city ​​life. This is causing many families to leave, which can weaken the tax base and the public school system.

The UFT represents 200,000 members, including 8000 home care workers and thousands of preschool teachers. The union funded the creation of a database to support both care seekers and providers.

How NYC Childcare Navigator Works

The union signed a contract with developers Upfront and Mirza. They combined disparate databases to allow parents to search options by distance, price, schedule, program type, special needs, and languages.

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The website allows you to enter your income information to find out what financial assistance your family is eligible for. All programs in the system are licensed, but parents are advised to visit the centers in person before making a selection.

Ernest Suarez of the Bronx, a teacher's aide at Ella Baker Elementary School on the Upper East Side, said his mother used to babysit his child. Sometimes his older son would help.

"It's really hard to find childcare on my income," he admitted. Teachers' aides earn between $30,000 and $55,000 a year.

When his mother was sick or his son was busy with school, everything fell apart. Then a colleague told him about a new service. Suarez was surprised to learn he was eligible for a subsidy: "After that, I did some research and chose the best option."

Creators of the project

Upfront founder and director Dana Levin-Robinson combined data from multiple city and state agencies to compile more than 12,000 licensed options.

Dana says she was inspired to come up with the idea by her own struggle to find childcare providers for her children.

"Now everything is in one place, you don't have to go to multiple websites," Levin-Robinson said.

She collaborated with Mirza founder Siran Cao, who added data on subsidies, vouchers, and other types of support.

"We want to eliminate confusion and make the programs truly accessible to parents," Cao explained.

The platform helps service providers, including union members, fill vacancies in their centers. In recent years, authorities have noted inequalities: some areas have too many kindergartens, while others have too few.

Mulgrew hopes the system will help policymakers see where demand is exceeding supply: "It will help them understand where the gaps are."