Real estate for child care providers

Safe, developmentally appropriate, and reliable child care is critically limited in our community. Many child care providers who wish to serve more children and families have a difficult time securing a suitable space to grow their business.

Care Access Real Estate (CARE) Nevada helps home-based child care providers rent a new property that will allow them to serve more children and families in Nevada. It is driven by a partnership between Nevada Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Welfare and Supportive Services, The Children's Cabinet and Mission Driven Finance.

Expand your child care business in a CARE Nevada property

CARE finds and purchases properties that can be renovated into ideal child care homes for large family child care/group child care operations. In partnership with local ecosystem partners, CARE offers the properties to pre-qualified child care providers who meet the criteria of a CARE tenant.

CARE acts as a child care friendly landlord, ensuring that your location will be maintained in licensable condition. After leasing a CARE property for at least two years, the tenant may have the opportunity to purchase the property at a discounted price.

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Early learning spaces for children and child care providers

Expand your business

Serve more children and families with a larger location.

Child care optimized space

CARE Nevada finds perfect houses for Group Child Care.

Friendly & supportive landlord

We understand the needs of child care and charge a fair rent.

Are you a good CARE Nevada candidate?

If you are a child care provider in Nevada who:

Has at least two years of experience providing child care in a home-based or center- based setting;
Is eager to care for more children in a house licensed for group child care (up to 12 children);
Is planning to continue operating a child care business for the foreseeable future;
Is currently operating your child care program in a rented space;
Is willing to move and lease a CARE property;
Is willing to care for children under 2 years old;
Is willing to serve children eligible for the state's subsidy program; and
Currently lives in Clark County, Nevada

Then this program might be right for you!

Explore the process

The full journey of a CARE tenant includes the following steps:

Step 1

Completing a CARE application

So we get to know you and your child care history.

Step 2

An interview (usually on zoom)

So we can dive deeper into your child care career aspirations and gain confidence that you will provide quality child care.

Step 3

An in-person meeting with our Financial Discovery partner

To understand your current household financials and agree on a maximum rent level that feels comfortable and affordable to you based on financial projections of a larger child care program.

Step 4

Completing a real estate questionnaire

So we know what kind of a property would be a great match for you, your child care program, and your family.

Step 5

Continue to serve children and families in your current space

Until you receive a property match notification and decide if the house is a good match for you!

This is a limited opportunity

Apply Now

What is the mission of CARE?

Expand the supply of quality child care, especially for overlooked and under-resourced families and communities.
Increase the resilience of child care businesses by providing stable leases as a child care friendly landlord.
Increase the revenue of child care providers by creating opportunities to expand their business to serve more children and families, and give them a pathway to possible home ownership.

What are the benefits of leasing a property from CARE?

You will be leasing a child care ideal house from a friendly and helpful landlord that understands the needs of child care. CARE is committed to helping you grow your business and serve more children and families.

I only recently started providing child care—am I eligible?

CARE is looking for tenants with over 2 years of experience providing care for children in either a home-based or a center-based setting.

I don't have a child care license—am I eligible?

Unlicensed child care providers are eligible for the CARE Nevada program. For an unlicensed family child care provider to be eligible for CARE Nevada, you must be able to demonstrate you have been providing child care to unrelated children as a registered license-exempt family, friend, or neighbor (FFN) provider for at least two years and/or you have substantial experience as a child care teacher.

I already have a large family child care license/group care license—why am I not eligible?

CARE aims to increase the availability of child care in Clark County, Nevada. Therefore, we are looking only for child care providers who can increase their licensed capacity. This includes both license-exempt FFN providers and providers who currently hold a Family Child Care license for up to six children and unable to expand their licensed capacity in their current location due to real estate challenges. All CARE tenants will be expected to serve more children and families by moving into a CARE property.

I am a Family Child Care Home Provider operating in a house I own—why am I not eligible?

CARE rents its properties to child care providers. If you already own your home, it doesn’t make financial sense to move to a rented property.

Do I need to live in Clark County to be eligible?

Yes. At this time only child care providers located in Clark County, Nevada are eligible.

I currently only serve families who are not eligible for the state child care tuition subsidy—am I eligible?

Yes, but when you move into a CARE property we will require you to serve families who are eligible for a state child care tuition subsidy. By moving into a CARE property, you agree to have at least 1/3 of your enrollees qualify for the state child care tuition subsidy program.

Does becoming a CARE candidate tenant mean I am guaranteed a property match?

No. Not all child care providers who are approved as a candidate tenant will match with a property.

How are CARE candidate tenants selected?

Providers who meet all need, quality, and capacity requirements as determined by the questionnaire, interviews, verifications, and documentation will be invited to become a CARE candidate tenant. Please note that becoming a CARE candidate tenant does not guarantee matching with and moving into a CARE property.

Is there an application fee?

No. There is no application fee for CARE.

I have bad credit—am I eligible?

Yes. We don’t require personal credit scores to become a CARE tenant.

Will I have the option to purchase the CARE Nevada property?

Financial coaching and support services will be provided to CARE tenants to ensure the tenants overall financial health allows them to be resilient, pursue opportunities, manage their business finances, and grow wealth.

CARE tenants may have an opportunity to purchase the property after two years at a discounted price, subject to federal rules and regulations.

What is a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT)?

A real estate investment trust (REIT) is a company that owns and operates rental properties. REITs pool money from numerous investors to invest in real property.

Who is Mission Driven Finance (MDF)?

Mission Driven Finance is an impact investment firm dedicated to building a financial system that ensures overlooked businesses have access to sufficient, affordable capital.

How long does the process take before I might move into a CARE house?

The timelines are variable and uncertain. The application process takes a couple of months, and there are many factors that affect when houses will be available and whether you match with one. We advise candidate tenants to move forward with their lives as if the CARE opportunity might not happen; if you match, you and your family can decide if the opportunity makes sense at that time.

Does the house come with a child care license?

No. It is the responsibility of the child care provider to apply for and obtain a group child care license. Many partners are mobilized to help navigate the process, but it is a lot of work, and that work falls on the child care provider. CARE provides rent discounts to help its tenants afford rent while they work their way through the licensing process.