Oregon Families Struggle With Childcare Costs That Can Reach Nearly $3,000 a Month
Oregon has a waiting list of over 15,000 multiple-child families for subsidized childcare, as the annual cost of infant care is the price of a second mortgage.
Childcare in Portland costs an average of $2,890 monthly, $2,732 in Gresham, and $2,491 in Salem. The annual cost of infant care in Oregon averages $19,500, 10% more than last year.
Sources: TOOTRiS Oregon childcare cost report, KATU report, Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care
Dailytidings.com
Eric Cutler of Tootris, an on-demand child care technology platform that connects working parents with licensed child care providers, daycare centers, and preschools, says many parents do not earn incomes to support these costs.
He says there are also many parents whose incomes exceed the limit to qualify for subsidies, yet who are unable to afford the soaring cost of childcare.
These problems were highlighted at the fifth annual gathering in Mt. Scott Park in Southeast Portland on Monday, organized by the nonprofit, ‘Day Without Child Care.’
Director Audreona Collins said, despite the Preschool For All program in Multnomah County, there were more than 15,000 families with multiple children on a childcare waiting list.