When it came time for college student Eric Gil to choose a career, the Dominican Republic native opted for one of America’s fastest-growing professions: early childhood education.

As the eldest of three brothers, Gil already knew how to help and care for children. This, coupled with his admiration for his professors at Southern Connecticut State University, made teaching feel like a calling. The path became even clearer in 2023, when Gil began interning at the Friends Center for Children, a childhood education center in New Haven, Connecticut.

But there was one problem: finding an affordable place to live. A preschool teacher’s average salary in the state is about $31,000. The average price for a one-bedroom apartment in New Haven is about $2,100.

To save money, Gil commuted from Waterbury, where he lived with relatives. The hourlong commute each way made studying difficult for the aspiring teacher.

Gil’s housing dilemma wasn’t unique. There were others among the center’s staff who commuted long distances to work. Still others didn’t have a stable place to call home.

Fortunately, the center came up with a solution: a free teacher housing program. The organization identified a housing problem in 2020 after surveying staffers about their living situations. Not one person owned their own home, and some were even couch surfing, says Friends Center Director Allyx Schiavone. Rent was the largest monthly expense for staff.

“We had no idea because these same women were showing up and taking care of other people’s children in the most professional and authentic and incredible way,” Schiavone says. “It was so obvious based on that one survey that the most powerful thing we could do was provide housing.”

At first glance, increasing salaries seems the most direct way to support early childhood educators struggling to afford housing. However, salary increases are a recurring operating expense, and for most early education providers, that would mean raising tuition for students’ families, according to Schiavone.

Read the full article about giving child care staff free housing by Stephanie Lam at Reasons to Be Cheerful.