For Immediate Release 

February 7, 2025

Contact: Maya Polon, [email protected]

 

Child Care Providers Who Lost Everything in Eaton Fire, Supported by Legislators, Demand Governor Newsom Not Leave Working Families Behind

Child Care Providers were Cut Off from Emergency Relief Feb. 6

SACRAMENTO, CA – Members of Child Care Providers United (CCPU), parents, and Senator Sasha Renée Pérez held a news conference Friday calling on Governor Newsom to extend fire relief for child care providers and the families who count on them.

 

The emotional event took place at the former home and business of CCPU member Felisa Wright, shortly after she returned to see the remains of her Altadena house for the first time since the Eaton Fire.

 

“Over the last 15 years, I built a home and child care business in a community I love. I raised my daughters here and built a foundation for them to raise my grandchildren here as well. I cared for 14 children, making nutritious home cooked meals for growing brains and created a learning environment to ensure each was ready to succeed in kindergarten. And then it was all gone. I want to stay in this community, I want to welcome my families back into my care – but I still haven’t been able to find a place to live. 30 days is not enough time for me to rebuild my own life, let alone rebuild my business. I need Governor Newsom to show compassion and step up to have our backs like he’s always promised he would,” said Wright.

 

Today’s press conference came the day after 30-day emergency relief for child care providers serving the area’s neediest families abruptly ended. At least 24 family child care providers lost their homes and their livelihoods and at least 30 more sustained damage severe enough that they have not been able to reopen due to the Eaton and Palisades fires. Without additional state support, these child care businesses will disappear forever, putting these Black and Brown women out of work, making it impossible for working parents to return to work, and intensifying the state’s child care crisis.

 

“Over the past month, I’ve witnessed devastation beyond comprehension. I’ve watched families lose everything , from their homes, their memories, their sense of security, to the businesses they’ve worked their whole lives to build,” said Senator Sasha Renée Pérez (D-Pasadena). “Rebuilding our communities will not happen overnight, and our state cannot afford to lose the child care providers who power our economy. Without additional state support, child care businesses will shut down, leaving working parents unable to return to their jobs and worsening the state’s already dire child care crisis. I stand with my colleagues in Los Angeles, along with the Legislative Women’s Caucus, in urging Governor Newsom to take immediate action, so we can recover and help our community rebuild.”

 

Child care providers face many barriers in reopening including:

  • No availability of houses for rent or purchase that are affordable or accessible to the area that would serve existing families

  • Waivers filed by individual providers to allow for interim operations have not been approved by the state

  • Site cleanup has not yet been authorized to occur

  • No funding is available for replacing equipment and safety materials

  • FEMA, SBA and other sources of business aid have been denied to many providers due to their low income among other reasons

 

“When the fires started, the state of California responded immediately. Now, as providers sit in limbo, the Governor has gone quiet,” said Max Arias, Chairperson of CCPU. “The fires devastated an already fragile workforce that earns, on average, $7 to $10 an hour. Many who have applied for loans from the Small Business Administration have been denied because their income is so low. It’s shameful that in a time of crisis, providers – who are essential to our state’s recovery – are being left to fend for themselves. Governor Newsom – you promised to be here for fire victims and you promised to be here for providers. The time to act is now.”

 

A recording of the press conference can be found here.

 

###

Child Care Providers United brings together more than 40,000 family child care providers across California and

is a partnership of SEIU Local 99, SEIU Local 521, and UDW/AFSCME Local 3930.