Leaders Break Ground For New United Way Family Center In Columbia

Columbia MD

04 May, 2021

12:26 PM

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COLUMBIA, MD — Leaders have broken ground for the United Way Family Center in Columbia, which will be the third such facility designed to provide affordable, accessible childcare and early childhood education for low-to-moderate income families. The center will be located in the Gateway District. Howard County Executive Calvin Ball was on hand at the groundbreaking and said the new United Way Family Center will complement the existing Head Start program. "(It will) fill the critical need for affordable, quality childcare for ALICE families by providing care for up to 76 infants and children," Ball said. "The new center is a great asset to our community, reducing the cost of childcare for those in need and creating 29 new jobs as a result. Our investment in this center is an investment not only in children and families but an investment in our community's health and economic vitality." According to the most recent ALICE Report (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed), 28 percent of Howard County households struggle to afford the basics in life, including housing, childcare, transportation, food and healthcare, and 26 percent of these households are families with children. Howard County's current Head Start program serves nearly 400 children in four early education centers for children ages 3 to 5 years old. "Based on the successful model of our centers in the Brooklyn and Poppleton neighborhoods of Baltimore, this site will break down barriers Howard County families face in getting quality childcare they can afford that's close to where they live and work. One in three households in areas this family center will serve can't make ends meet and struggle to pay for just the basics, like food, housing and healthcare," Franklyn Baker, United Way of Central Maryland CEO and president, said. "There's no silver bullet that will eliminate childcare barriers. But by working united, together with local government, corporations and other organizations, we can achieve great things and create lasting change to ensure the health and well-being of children, families, businesses and the local economy in Howard County." Even though Howard County has one of the highest median incomes in the nation, it also has one of the highest costs of living, making it a difficult place for low-to moderate-income families to afford childcare, officials note. On average, across all income levels, Howard County families spend approximately 20 percent of their income on childcare, which is double the national recommendation of 10 percent. "It is exciting to see this project get underway," Jaqueline R. Scott, director of the department of community resources and services, said. "After years of working together to increase the availability of affordable, accessible and quality childcare in the county, I am happy to see that we have been able to respond to the needs of our community with such an innovative and proven model. The groundbreaking is a symbol of how our government, nonprofit partners and business sector listen to our communities and work towards compassionate solutions that will benefit generations to come."