The Landscape of Childcare Insecurity and Housing Prices in New York City (NYC)
According to the 2025 report by Feeding America entitled “Map the Meal Gap,” 17% of New Yorkers experience food insecurity, which is defined as “a household-level economic and social condition of limited or uncertain access to adequate food.”1 The rate among children in NYC is much higher (24%).2 Roughly 63% of NYC households with children do not have enough income to cover the monthly cost of housing and basic living expenses, including food, childcare, healthcare, and transportation.3,4 A recent brief from the Citizens Committee for Children of New York found that 80% of caregivers in New York City consider childcare is unaffordable.5,6 These families often experience childcare hardship forcing them to either reduce their hours, stop care entirely, or rely on inadequate options due to a lack of affordable options.
Families in poverty often have limited funds to cover expenses like childcare, food, utilities, and other necessary expenses after rent.5 Between 2021 and 2023, childcare costs in Queens rose by 22% while median earnings increased by only 9%.8,9 This highlights a growing gap between income and the rising cost of childcare. In Bronx neighborhoods such as Mott Haven and Hunts Point, many families spend up to 63% of their income on childcare.10 The challenges faced by residents of Queens and the Bronx reflect broader trends seen across NYC, highlighting city-wide struggles with access to these essential services.8,9 According to a report released by UNICEF of data collected on 41 high-income countries, the United States ranked 40th for best practices in childcare policies and parental leave support.11 This brief will describe how the lack of affordable childcare exacerbates food insecurity in New York City and provides evidence-based policy recommendations to address these two issues.