San Mateo County launches town halls on child care crisis

“I am deeply concerned about the child care unaffordability in San Mateo County. We have a workforce crisis that starts in the crib,” Speier said. “The cost for one infant can easily be over $30,000 a year. Many parents are forced to cut spending, dip into their savings, accrue debt, leave the workforce or move.”

Families and providers are encouraged to share their stories and experiences to help shape potential solutions that make child care more affordable and accessible for all.

“Too many families are being left behind simply because they can’t afford child care,” Gauthier said. “And for the providers, the high cost of living makes it nearly impossible to keep their doors open. We have to find a way to support both sides, the families who need care and the workers who provide it.”

The cost of child care is so acute that in Silicon Valley, annual care for one infant and one toddler can total $59,900, more than the median cost of rent for a two-bedroom apartment in San Mateo County. Infant care alone averages $31,200 annually, exceeding tuition at many private universities.

What’s fueling the sky-high costs? A mismatch between supply and demand. San Mateo County meets only 73% of the estimated need for licensed care, leaving nearly 9,000 children without access and thousands of families stuck on waitlists.

A 2022 survey by San Mateo County Health found that 46.5% of residents in midcounty communities had considered relocating due to the high cost of living — a strain that affects not only families, but the region’s overall economic stability.

The South San Francisco Library/Parks & Recreation Center is at 901 Civic Campus Way. A kids’ corner for potty-trained children age 2 1/5 or older will be available, subject to capacity.

RSVPs are required for those planning to bring a child. Please include the child’s age. Light dinner will be provided for attendees. A second Child Care Town Hall will be held Wednesday, Aug. 27, in East Palo Alto. Go to smcgov.org/district-1/child-care-town-hall-2025?auHash=GXltf3YNRwp1pfk1qiLGeIa9FFnDDCFlSiUghf8fYw4 to learn more or RSVP.