Build Up SMC

The Challenge

San Mateo County has a child care shortage crisis affecting families’ economic opportunities, and children’s learning during critical development stages from birth to age 12. Recently, the county turned down $1 million in state support for subsidized child care due to lack of facilities to house programs.

Effect on Employment

Available child care is a quality of life and workforce issue for residents and employers. The child care shortage causes working parents to choose between less-than-ideal arrangements or turning down employment opportunities.

Effect on Housing

Child care is valuable community infrastructure that interrelates with housing and transit; child care sited near housing, jobs and transit reduces car trips. Currently, families may drive an extra 45 minutes or more to get to quality care.

Development Hurdles

Early learning programs looking to open new sites or expand face challenges such as lack of usable, affordable space and extreme development expenses and timelines. Many give up on their expansion dreams.

Increased Real Estate Prices

Existing providers are squeezed by the hot real estate market. Those who rent see rent increases or lose their leases as buildings are repurposed, displacing children from early learning spaces. Child care businesses operate on tight budgets; demand for housing and office space prices child care out of the market.

Meet our Co-Chairs

Co-Chairs to the Build Up Advisory Body

Kitty Lopez

Executive Director, First 5 San Mateo County

“I am so pleased to be co-chairing the Advisory Committee of Build-Up for SMC Children with Supervisor and Board President Dave Pine. Quality care and education for our youngest children is critical so they get a successful start in life. We desperately need more spaces for children throughout our county; Build Up is working to meet that need!”

Dave Pine

San Mateo County Board of Supervisors - District 1

"I am excited to co-chair the Build Up initiative’s Advisory Body because quality child care must be part of our civic dialogue to ensure that our families are supported and our communities thrive. Child care should be considered a public infrastructure that requires community support and investment, and Build Up is taking much needed steps to drive solutions to the child care shortage."