A wait list for access to child care fee subsidy will be introduced in the City of Hamilton on June 2, 2008.
The Province of Ontario changed the financial testing process to qualify for child care fee subsidy. Financial eligibility is now determined based on income. This change makes more families eligible for child care fee subsidy.
From January 2007 to January 2008, the fee subsidy caseload increased by 18% causing the demand for fee subsidy to be greater than the available funding. This demand has created the need for a wait list for access to child care fee subsidy.
The City's waitlist management strategy (pdf) provides service to qualifying residents based on a mix of reasons for service and income criteria. Depending on each family's reason for needing child care and their income they will be placed in a priority queue on the wait list. Within each priority list, applicants will be given access to service on a first-come/first-served basis.
The following provides an overview of each priority.
Priority 1: Provides access to child care for families in highest need in our community. Priority 1 applicants will not be waitlisted for service. Priority 1 includes financially eligible applicants with a child who requires special needs resources and / or those vulnerable families in high risk situations.
Priority 2: Provides access to child care for families who qualify for child care fee subsidy and have a family income below Statistics Canada Low Income Cut off.
| Size of Family Unit |
Low Income Cut-offs Before Tax ($) |
| 1 person |
22,637 |
| 2 persons |
28,182 |
| 3 persons |
34,656 |
| 4 persons |
42,065 |
| 5 persons |
47,710 |
| 6 persons |
53,808 |
| 7 or more persons |
59,907 |
These families will receive service on a first-come/first-served basis when spaces become available.
Priority 3: Provides access to child care for families who qualify for child care fee subsidy and have a family income above Statistics Canada low income cut off. These families will receive service on a first-come/first-served basis within Priority 3 and will be served after the Priority 2 queue has been cleared.
Wait times will vary depending on the assigned priority and available funding. The caseload will be monitored on a monthly basis to determine if funding is available for new applicants. When a space becomes available, a child care fee subsidy eligibility worker will contact the next applicant in the queue. At that time, an appointment will be scheduled to complete the application.
Contact Information
For more information about the City of Hamilton's child care programs and services, contact us using the information below:
| Email: |
childcare@hamilton.ca |
| Phone: |
905-546-4870 |
| Fax: |
905-546-3064 |
| Address: |
Physical Address:
Child Care Subsidy
Lister Block Building
28 James Street North – 6th Floor
Hamilton, ON L8R 2K1
Mailing Address:
City of Hamilton – Community Services
Child Care Subsidy
Lister Block Building – 6th Floor
P.O. Box 2040, Hamilton, ON L8P 4Y5 |