How To Get Child Care Assistance
Raising a child includes countless moments of joy—but it also comes with its fair share of challenges. Perhaps one of the greatest obstacles parents face these days is the high cost of raising their children.
These expenses have increased significantly over the last few decades. According to Global News, the average cost of raising a child to the age of 17 is over $250,000, which doesn’t include college expenses.
If you’re struggling to pay for daycare, healthcare, or housing costs, there are public and private programs that can provide child care assistance so you can focus on your family.
An overview of the largest child care costs
Below, we’ve outlined the major costs parents face when raising a child. They don’t include clothing, food, transportation, or other miscellaneous expenses.
Daycare costs
The soaring cost of daycare is another financial hurdle that working parents have to overcome. A 2016 study by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development found Canada to be among the most expensive countries in the world for child care-costs. The average two-income family in Canada spends about 22.2 per cent of their net salary on child care – child care should not have to be this astronomical.
Housing costs
It goes without saying that a larger family means a larger home and that an extra bedroom or bedrooms can really put a dent in the budget. Out of the total amount it costs to raise a child, over $50,000 is needed to house a child.
Healthcare costs
Aside from labor and delivery costs, which can run anywhere from a few thousand dollars, providing continued healthcare to your child can be a financial struggle for many. A family of two adults and two children earning approximately $118,000 in 2014 will pay $11,786 for public health care insurance.
Educations costs
While public schools are far cheaper than private schools, a public education can still cost a pretty penny. Backpacks, notebooks, and field trip expenses—it can all add up. Canadians expect to spend a whopping $883 per family on back-to-school supplies and fashion this year, $325 more than they spent on holiday gifts last year, according to a new survey.
If you’d like to send your child to a public school, prices increase dramatically. The average cost to send your child to private schools in Canada can cost anywhere between 4,000 CAD (2,977 USD) to 26,000 CAD (19,349 USD) in tuition fees annually. After high school, many parents are left wondering how to pay for college for their children.
Government program for child care
When families need help paying for childcare, housing costs, medical care, and daycare, there are government programs in place to help alleviate financial stress. Below are just a few that may help you and your family.
Canada Child Benefit
The Canada Child Benefit (CCB) provides money to eligible families to help them with the costs of raising children. It is a tax-free monthly payment made to eligible families to help with the cost of raising children under 18 years of age.
Three surprising sources for child care assistance
Government programs aren’t the only way to find reprieve from mounting child-related expenses. These three under-the-radar sources help bring down costs as well.
1. Local diaper banks
At $80-100 per month, diapers are a huge expense for low-income families. The National Diaper Bank understands this and wants to eliminate the financial barrier that stands between babies and a sufficient supply of diapers. For more information about finding a diaper bank near you, visit the National Diaper Bank online.
2. Discounted daycare through nonprofits
There are quite a few local nonprofit organizations that offer discounts on daycare services to families in need. Some YMCAs, for example, offer an Alternative Payment (AP) daycare program for infants to 13-year-olds. Other local nonprofits or religious organizations may offer sliding scale options for daycare.
3. Free financial coaching
Low-income families can receive financial coaching for free through organizations like LIFT. Through the organization, parents work with their own coach, who offers advice and support on everything from finances to education. LIFT also provides funds for emergencies that may stand in the way of meeting long-term goals.
Online fundraising can help pay for child care
Building an emergency fund isn’t a possibility for everyone, so it can be tough to recover if a personal financial crisis strikes. When this happens, expensive childcare costs can become even more daunting.
Every day, thousands of parents turn to crowdfunding to help offset crucial childcare costs. By starting an online fundraiser, you can begin raising money in a matter of minutes. GoFundMe’s free fundraising platform allows you to keep more of the funds you raise, which means more of your donations can pay for daycare, tuition, or any other child-related expenses.
Our blog also offers plenty of fundraising tips and fundraising ideas to guide you in the right direction. And if you run into any snags, you can reach GoFundMe’s Customer Care Team 24/7 through our Help Center.
Real people who crowdfunded for child care costs
When these parents fell on hard times and needed child care assistance, they launched fundraisers through GoFundMe to find financial relief.
Helping Abbey’s Family Thrive
When Abbey’s partner passed away unexpectedly, her world was turned upside down. Abbey had to take a leave from work to care for her four children, all under the age of 13. She also didn’t have a source of income while waiting for Social Security benefits to kick in. Her friend came to her aid and started a GoFundMe to help Abbey pay for food, rent, childcare costs, and other basic necessities. The fundraiser raised over $10,500 in just three months.
Ellingworth Family Emergency Fund
Chase, the father of four children, was involved in a terrible accident that resulted in a broken neck and partial paralysis. Out of work from his construction job, Chase and his wife Veronica worried about how they would continue to support their family while Chase recovered. Veronica’s sister started a GoFundMe that raised over $11,500 to help them during this difficult time.
When the Unthinkable Happens
After a large tree snapped and fell on her, Victoria suffered multiple broken bones and paralysis. Her husband and four children knew she faced a long recovery and a lot of expenses. Family friends turned to GoFundMe to help with child care, housekeeping, and nursing care costs, and raised over $200,000 for Victoria and her family.
Find financial assistance for child care today
From daycare to diapers, the expenses that accompany raising a child can be a financial burden for parents everywhere. GoFundMe offers help for single parents and nuclear families alike. Sign up and create a GoFundMe today to pay for childcare costs, or launch a fundraiser to raise money for a family in need.