San Francisco Subsidizes Child Care For Families Earning Up To $325,000
The city offers half-price care at that income level, and free care for families of four earning up to $235,000.
By Dominic Foster ·
San Francisco is paying for child care for households earning as much as $325,000 a year, a threshold that reaches well past the median income in a city where housing costs rose 26 percent over the past year. Families of four making up to $235,000 qualify for free care under the program, according to figures The New York Times reported on Oct. 29.
The gap between what families earn and what the city costs to occupy sits at the center of the debate. A median two-bedroom apartment rents for $4,640 per month, and the median house price exceeds $2 million. Against those numbers, Mayor Daniel Lurie defended the subsidy: "Yes, it is an incredibly, extraordinarily expensive city to live in and to work in and to thrive. That's why 50 percent off at $325,000 is so essential."
Therapist John Marman and part-time pediatric nurse Natsumi Makiyama are one couple using the free tier. They bought a 1,200-square-foot house for $1.3 million in 2023 and put $8,600 monthly toward mortgage and vehicle costs, the Times reported. Marman's 4-year-old daughter attends preschool at no charge, and his family has lived in San Francisco for five generations. "We're very lucky to receive the benefit for school, but life is just still very tough," Marman said.
The program arrives as artificial intelligence investment has pushed up prices across the city. No timetable for changes to the income thresholds was included in the reporting.
The New York Times published its account on Oct. 29, the same day the figures circulated.
