Greenville Housing Authority Launches Program to Address Childcare Shortage
The Greenville Housing Authority, in collaboration with Greenville First Steps, S.C. Childcare Resource and Referral, and the Palmetto Shared Services Alliance, has successfully graduated its first cohort of home-based childcare providers. This initiative aims to tackle the shortage of affordable, reliable, and high-quality childcare in Greenville, South Carolina. The program, which began earlier this year, focuses on training individuals to establish and sustain home-based childcare services, particularly in communities with limited access to such resources. The first graduates, including Janella Bray, Cynthia Harrison, Lillie Allen, Evette Butler, and Shamaine Benson, completed a 10-week orientation and training program. They are now preparing to convert their homes into licensed childcare centers with support from the South Carolina Department of Social Services. Greenville First Steps is also providing up to $4,000 to each new provider for materials and supplies.