Opening a daycare in GTA's needy neighbourhood?

[Connect]

hello,

Have any of you opened a home childcare or live in an area where it has been labelled "needy?" if so has this label been hard in finding clients?

[Momof4]

Can you clarify what you mean by needy? Do you mean families in low income housing who will need subsidy with their daycares? Or needy as in there are no other daycares in the area so there is a great need for one?

[Connect]

hello,
needy as in majority of families do live in low-income housing, and most do use subsidy. The media has given the neighbourhood a bad rep regarding gang violence, but in reality the neighbourhood is quite peaceful.

[Inspired by Reggio]

If the majority of the neighborhood requires access to subsidy you might have more success being 'full' if you are contracted with an licensed agency verses going solely 'private' because than you could accept both private clients as well as clients who are on subsidy ... being solely private in a neighborhood predominately 'geared to income housing' you might experience a lot of turn over where clients start with you 'fee paying' because there is no openings in subsidized programs and than change over when an opening comes available :(

My neighborhood skirts both low income and middle / working class with a 'well off' neighborhood tossed into the mix and when I was with an 'agency' at the start of my home based career I was never able to get any subsidized clients through them because of the waiting list for subsidy and those clients who needed subsidy could not afford to pay at all so they just stayed home on assistance until subsidy opened up and than went and found work or returned to school :( All my clients have been full fee paying clients who choose not to go with an agency because of the higher cost but are willing to pay me a little more than my peers get in this neck of the woods because I follow all the same rules having been with an agency if that makes sense ... aka my area is predominately the $20-30 a day providers and I am able to charge $35-38 a day which is still $15 plus a day less than 'agency care' would be.

[Sandbox Sally]

Where in the GTA?

[Connect]

I prefer not to say. Thank you.

[Sandbox Sally]

I wasn't asking for a street address. I meant the general vicinity, like, are we talking Ajax, or Downsview, or...y'know? If you are going to advertise in the GTA, you're going to have to tell potential clients where you are located. It's a very large area.

I'm not trying to stalk you. I was trying to brainstorm with you on whether you might get clients from that may not be in your direct neighbourhood block.

[mommydaycare]

I was having a hard time getting calls and then I felt that it was because I am nearby the location I believe you are talking about. My main street runs off of a street that just recently encountered some heavy bad coverage media..... I tried everything to switch my online ads to not include the street name but it was difficult because parents want to know where you are located before even looking into your service. But, I will say that it was just a matter of time. For the parents that live in this area they would know that it is a good area despite being connected by a street name that is labelled "bad". I have been advertising since May and just this week I got my first visit. Aaahhhh!

Be patient and just know that as long as you provide the best possible care, the parents will see this when they meet you and just be prepared for any questions regarding the "bad rep" as you say of an area.