ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newNOW) —
A request for proposals for community child care services has sparked concerns about the future of Head Start classes in public housing facilities in Asheville.
The Housing Authority of the City of Asheville, which is the owner/landlord of the buildings that house the Pisgah View, Hillcrest and Lonnie D. Burton centers, notified Head Start officials last year that changes were coming, HACA President and CEO Monique Pierre said.
A letter from Community Action Opportunities Head Start to parents said the program must vacate the premises by June 17, 2024.
Pierre said federal rules prompted the request for child care services proposals.
“There’s a reason for everything, and, in this case, the reason is federal funding,” Pierre said.
She said the agreements HACA had with Head Start have not been updated in years.
“You can’t have them in place more than five years, and these are about 10 years out of compliance,” Pierre said. “We have to do a request for proposals. We had this conversation with them (Head Start) before the school year even began.”
Head Start officials declined to comment on the RFP, citing the procurement process and not wanting to risk being disqualified if seen as trying to influence the outcome.
The request for child care proposals does not mean Head Start won’t be able to have space in those buildings. It has to apply like any other would-be provider would.
While Pierre was quick to point out that Head Start provides much-needed early enrichment for children, she said Asheville families need more options.
“There’s not a lot of affordable child care in Asheville. Head Start is filling a void. However, what I found is that the children whose parents live in public housing, they need more, a more robust, full out education. They need child care,” Pierre said.
Head Start doesn’t typically share its space, and the program has unused space, she said.
“I’m not opposed to Head Start. We’re just looking at all the options and what is best for our residents,” Pierre said.
That could mean alternative schedules for residents who work second and third shifts.
“Absolutely. At some point, I’m expecting a work requirement. And it wouldn’t make any sense to tell our residents you have to go to work but then not have a child care option,” she said. “We are invested in the well-being of the whole entire household.”
Parents need help, and having a variety of child care options would help, Pierre said.
“The RFP requires providing extended day services and taking child care subsidy or private pay for those who qualify,” according to the May 6 letter Head Start sent parents. “If Community Action Opportunities Head Start is not chosen to be the child care provider, Head Start services would not be available at this location. We are unaware of potential eligibility criteria or parent fees that would be required by a new provider, other than the RFP requirement to reserve 50% of slots for children receiving child care subsidy vouchers.”
The letter said Head Start planned to apply for the RFP.
The deadline to apply is Wednesday, May 22, but Pierre said the deadline had already been extended once and could possibly be extended again.