As Buffalo schools go remote, the need for affordable childcare increases ii

The upcoming school year won't be easy for Krystle Callari and her almost 4-year-old daughter Alba.

Callari is a single mom who works full time.

Alba is starting Pre-K in the Buffalo schools fully remote, so Callari must find affordable child care for her daughter.

THANKS EILEEN ...AND WITH THEBUFFALO SCHOOLDISTRICT JOININGMARYWALE AND WESTSENECA IN ITSDECISION TO BEGINTHE SCHOOL YEARFULLY REMOTE -- NEWCHILD CARECHALLENGES ARELOOMING FOR MANYFAMILIES.RIGHT NOW IN NEWYORK STATE --DAYCARE FOR ONECHILD COSTROUGHLY 14-THOUSAND DOLLARSPER YEAR.AND WHILE DEMAND ISGROWING, SUPPLY ISDWINDLING, WITH ANESTIMATED 30 TO 50PERCENT OFDAYCARES EXPECTEDTO CLOSE DUE TO THEPANDEMIC.BUT HELP IS OUTTHERE FORSTRUGGLING FAMILIES- 7 EYEWITNESSNEWS REPORTEROLIVIA PROIA ISTACKLING THIS TOPICTONIGHTHE UPCOMINGSCHOOL YEAR WON'TBE EASY FOR KRYSTLECALLARI AND HERALMOST 4-YEAR-OLDDAUGHTER.K: I DON'T KNOWWHAT'S GOING TOHAPPEN.

THE BUFFALOPUBLIC SCHOOLDISTRICT DOESN'TSEEM TO HAVE ACONCRETE PLAN.

THEYDON'T SEEM TO BECONCERNED ABOUTTHE NEEDS OFWORKING PARENTS.CALLARI IS A FULL TIMEWORKING, SINGLEMOTHER.

HEDAUGHTER IS GOINGTO PRE-K.... BUT NOW,SHE'LL BE ATTENDINGSCHOOL FULLYREMOTE... WHICHMEANS KRYSLTENEEDS TO FIND CHILDCARE.KRYSTLE: I ASKED DAYCARE IF THEY COULDTAKE HER FULL TIMEBUT THEY DON'T KNOWYET BECAUSE THEYHAVE SUCH AN INFLUXOF PEOPLE WANTINGFULL TIME BECAUSE SOMANY OF THEDISTRICTS ARE GOINGVIRTUAL RIGHT NOW.DAY CARE COSTS ONAVERAGE 14THOUSAND DOLLARSPER YEAR IN NEWYORK STATE.

AND ONTOP OF THAT, SHERISCAVONE - THEEXECUTIVE DIRECTOROF THE WESTERNNEW YORK WOMEN'SFOUNDATION - SAYSABOUT 30 TO 50PERCENT OFDAYCARES WILLPERMANENTLY CLOSETHEIR DOORSBECAUSE OF THEPANDEMIC.SHERI: I THINK WE'REBEGINNING TO SEESOME OF THAT NOW.

INERIE COUNTY WE HADABOUT 38 PERCENT OFTHE CHILD CARECENTERS CLOSE.SO IF KRYSTLE CANEVEN FINDAFFORDABLECARE..THERE'SANOTHER ISSUKRYSTLE: IF SHE'S INDAY CARE ALL DAY,THEY CAN'T DOSCHOOLING WITH HERTHERE.

THEY CAN'THAVE A TABLET INTHERE.BUT THERE ARERESOURCES FORPARENTS LIKEKRYSLTE WHO ARESEARCHING FOR ASOLUTION.SHERI: THERE ACHILD CARE SUBSIDIESAVAILABLE FORINDIVIDUALS WHO AREWORKING.YOU CAN CALL 2-1-1 TOGET MOREINFORMATIONCHILD CARESUBSIDIES.

WE WILLALSO HAVE MORERESOURCES ON OURWEBSITE WKBW.COM.IN BUFFALO, OP7EWN.