Wake County unveils program to help pay for childcare during COVID-19

The program is expected to cover or reduce childcare costs for Wake County families in the months of August, September and December, the months not already covered by a state-funded program.

“The costs associated with unexpected childcare five days a week are enough to damage the fragile budgets of families impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, but without regular, in-person education there aren’t many alternatives,” said Greg Ford, chairman of the Wake County Board of Commissioners. The county has allocated $5 million from the CARES Act towards a new program called Wake Support that will give up $870 per child, per month to families with low to moderate incomes – a family of four making less than $56,460, for example, or family of five making 61,000 or less.

To qualify to apply, families must:

As long as children meet the age requirements, there is no limit to how many children can be helped in one family.

Wake Supports payments will be made directly to the childcare provider to reduce or eliminate each parent's cost. The childcare provider must meet certain state-mandated qualifications.