AUSTIN, Texas — A new study has revealed the availability of subsidized child care has decreased in Austin.
On Thursday, the nonprofit organization Children at Risk hosted a virtual press conference discussing the state of child care providers across Texas.
The group collected data from September 2022 through October 2023, finding there are 333 ZIP codes throughout Texas that are considered "child care deserts."
Additionally, there are 650 deserts for families currently working off of low-income salaries. Of these families, only one in five are able to access subsidized care for their children.
Children at Risk defines child care deserts as ZIP codes where "the number of children under age 6 with working parents is three times greater than the licensed capacity of child care providers in the area." Meanwhile, subsidized child care deserts are defined as ZIP codes with "at least 30 low-income children, ages 0-5, where the demand for subsidized child care ... is three times greater or more than the supply of subsidized child care."
There are currently six child care deserts and 49 subsidy deserts in the Austin area. For every 100 low-income working Austin families, there are only 11.6 spots for subsidized care.
From 2022 to 2024, Austin reported a 44% decrease in subsidized care availability.
Houston has shown the largest number of child care subsidy deserts for lower income working parents, totaling 128. Subsidized seats lowered in the Houston area by 14% from 2022 to 2024.
In order to make changes, Children at Risk hopes that early education will be a priority for lawmakers during the 89th Texas Legislature, set to begin in January 2025.
Take a closer look at the Child Care Desert Map.