Bill Overview
Title: Build Housing with Care Act of 2022
Description: This bill establishes a competitive grant program to support co-located childcare and housing facilities. It also requires the Government Accountability Office to study the availability and affordability of childcare for residents of public housing. Specifically, the Department of Housing and Urban Development must award the grants to eligible entities, which include community development financial institutions, public housing authorities, licensed childcare providers, government entities, housing developers, and consortia of such entities. Entities must use the grants for designing, planning, constructing, acquiring, renovating, or otherwise supporting new or existing facilities where childcare and housing providers are on the same premises.
Sponsors: Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1]
Target Audience
Population: Families needing affordable housing and childcare
Estimated Size: 5000000
- The bill supports the development of facilities that co-locate housing and childcare, impacting families with young children who need affordable housing and childcare.
- Childcare providers and housing developers will also be affected as they may receive funding to create these facilities.
- Public housing residents who may benefit from improved access to childcare will be directly impacted.
- Public housing authorities and community development financial institutions as they can apply for these grants and implement these projects.
Reasoning
- With a limited budget, the policy is likely to have high impact in specific communities where childcare and housing are co-located, especially in areas with high public housing density.
- While it might not cover the entire demand, the policy could generate significant benefits for targeted communities by reducing childcare costs and stabilizing housing for low-income families.
- Since the grant is competitive, larger metropolitan areas with higher populations are more likely to see project approvals due to efficiencies of scale and greater impact potential.
- Not all families in public housing will be impacted, as the program will roll out over time and is competitive, which limits initial widespread effect.
- There will be knock-on effects for local economies and education outcomes as stabilized home environments with accessible childcare can lead to better childhood development.
Simulated Interviews
Part-time retail worker (New York, NY)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy could really help single parents like me who struggle with finding affordable childcare.
- If the housing included childcare facilities, it would make it easier to balance work and parenting.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 2 |
Community developer (Detroit, MI)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I see tremendous potential in this policy to uplift communities through strategic infrastructure.
- Grants can aid in transforming unused public housing spaces into vibrant neighborhood centers.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Licensed childcare provider (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Co-locating childcare with housing would help us expand services at a lower cost.
- Grant access would allow us to grow into under-served areas.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Government employee (Seattle, WA)
Age: 33 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy aligns with our goals to improve housing and childcare access.
- We'll be closely monitoring how we can integrate this grant into larger city plans.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Unemployed (Raleigh, NC)
Age: 38 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Finding work is hard when childcare is set up halfway across town.
- I hope this policy can help make childcare facilities more central and accessible.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 2 |
Freelance graphic designer (Austin, TX)
Age: 42 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Affordable childcare is crucial for gig workers; this policy could offer more balanced work-life solutions.
- Housing linked with childcare seems ideal, but execution will be key.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Healthcare assistant (Chicago, IL)
Age: 27 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's hard balancing shifts and childcare availability.
- Policies like these could help integrate work and child development solutions more fluidly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
Early childhood educator (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 36 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Ensuring co-located childcare can improve early educational outcomes.
- I'm optimistic if the program gets funding and support.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Retired city planner (Boston, MA)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is a step in the right direction for urban redevelopment.
- It'll likely need proper oversight and evaluation as it progresses.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Barista (Portland, OR)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Affordable housing is as crucial as childcare for starting a family.
- Such policies can influence long-term decisions about settling down.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $150000000 (Low: $120000000, High: $180000000)
Year 2: $150000000 (Low: $120000000, High: $180000000)
Year 3: $150000000 (Low: $120000000, High: $180000000)
Year 5: $150000000 (Low: $120000000, High: $180000000)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The availability of skilled construction labor and materials could influence the pace and success of building projects funded by the grants.
- The program's success can potentially reduce financial strain on families seeking childcare, thus allowing parents to maintain or seek employment.
- Long-term impact on childcare affordability and housing solutions is contingent on effective administration and implementation of the grant process.