BoCC Votes to Fund Childcare From Social Justice Fund

At Tuesday night’s meeting in Chapel Hill, the Orange County Board of Commissioners unanimously voted to fund childcare for low-income families.

“Well I’ll make the motion that we transfer $350,000 from the social justice fund to the Department of Social Services for childcare and to allow DSS to utilize any funds within its budget to pay costs for childcare,” said Board Vice-Chair Bernadette Pelissier.

Working parents who meet income requirements may apply for childcare support through the Orange County Department of Social Services. Households must make less than twice the federal poverty level to qualify. The federal poverty level is $23,850 for a four-person household.

State actions this year resulted in a $700,000 loss to the Orange County Department of Social Services. The state also made changes in income eligibility for childcare services. Money from the county’s  social justice fund will help cover childcare for some families who would not have been covered otherwise.

Nancy Coston, director of the Orange County Department of Social Services, said people currently getting childcare support will be kept on at least through June 30, 2015.

Coston spoke about how childcare helps families. “It helps working families know their children are safe so they can go to work,” said Coston. “But it also keeps kids in an area where they can be developing appropriately.”

Also, the department will clear the waiting list for childcare services because many on the list are no longer available and the long list slows the process.

“We know that when we do clear the waiting list, we do generate interest in childcare because a lot of people do get very discouraged about the waiting list and just don’t bother to put their names on,” said Coston.

After the transfer, $100,000 will be left in the county’s social justice fund.