Working families in Memphis are facing increasing financial pressure from multiple directions at once.

School hours often do not align with standard work schedules, making it difficult for parents to maintain stable employment without reliable before- and after-school care. At the same time, affordable childcare options are limited or out of reach for many families.

On top of this, the cost of living continues to rise significantly—rent, gas, groceries, and other basic necessities are all becoming more expensive, leaving families with less financial flexibility.

Childcare assistance programs such as Smart Steps are still available, but access has become more limited in recent years due to reduced funding, stricter eligibility requirements, and enrollment waitlists. As a result, fewer families are able to receive the support they previously depended on.

These combined challenges are forcing working parents to make impossible decisions between keeping employment, affording childcare, and covering basic living expenses.

This is not a single household issue—it is a systemic problem affecting working families across Memphis.

We are calling on local and state leaders to:

Expand affordable before and after-school childcare options
Strengthen access to childcare assistance programs like Smart Steps
Address rising cost-of-living pressures impacting working families
Develop coordinated solutions that support both workforce stability and family well-being
Families should not have to choose between working and surviving.