For working parents in South Los Angeles, the ability to secure a good job and access quality childcare is not just a goal—it is essential to their family’s well-being. The Coalition for Responsible Community Development (CRCD), in partnership with Rising Communities and Best Start Region 2, conducted focus groups and surveys with over 450 parents to better understand what it will take to support working families.
The results highlight the barriers families face and the opportunities to create real solutions. South LA parents are ambitious, hardworking, and committed to building a better future for their children. With the right support, they can overcome obstacles and thrive.
Key Findings:
Parents are stuck in low-paying jobs with little or no opportunity for growth and are struggling to keep up with the rising cost of living. South LA parents face a labor market where good jobs—defined by fair wages, benefits, and growth opportunities—are scarce. The unemployment rate in South LA is higher, and the median income is far lower compared to the county average. Working parents often struggle to advance their careers without losing vital benefits like subsidized childcare.
Many parents want to operate their own businesses that allow them flexibility and creativity.
Entrepreneurship came up often, with parents saying it offers more freedom to raise a family.
Several discussed a desire to be more creative and create socially responsible businesses.
Parents face many barriers in accessing good jobs, including educational, legal, and financial barriers. Parents face various barriers to good jobs, including education gaps, lack of mentorship, and legal constraints, especially for those with criminal backgrounds or undocumented status. Parents want career-track jobs in fields such as healthcare and entrepreneurship, which align with their aspirations to contribute to their community.
Families lack access to affordable childcare that aligns with their work schedules and meets their families’ needs. The childcare system in South LA presents significant barriers for parents, who face a lack of affordable, high-quality, and flexible care options. Most parents rely on informal care from relatives or neighbors, which often lacks stability and reliability, particularly for those working irregular hours. The rising cost of childcare is out of reach for many, with parents who lose subsidies facing monthly costs upwards of $900, creating a critical gap between wages and the cost of care. Moreover, long waitlists and rigid eligibility criteria for subsidies exclude many families, leaving them unsupported.
Join the Conversation
CRCD and our partners are hosting a series of community convenings to dive deeper into the findings of this report, hear directly from parents, and collaborate on ways to move these solutions forward. These conversations are open to all—parents, community leaders, service providers, and anyone invested in the future of South LA families.
- Broadway Manchester
- Tuesday, April 15th , 2025 11:30am-1:00pm
- CD8 Constituent Center
- 8475 S. Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90044
- REGISTER TODAY
- Watts Willowbrook
- Wednesday, April 23rd, 2025, 5:00pm-6:30pm
- Willowbrook Library
- 11737 Wilmington Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90059
- REGISTER TODAY
- Compton
- Monday, April 28th 12:00pm-1:30pm
- Compton College Multipurpose Room
- 1111 E Artesia Blvd, Compton, CA 9022
- REGISTER TODAY
A Call to Action: Investing in South LA Families
This research makes one thing clear: South LA families are determined to succeed, but they need systems that work with them, not against them. By investing in job training, entrepreneurship, benefits reform, and childcare, we can ensure that parents do not have to choose between financial stability and their children’s well-being.
The report includes several recommendations from parents surveyed for how to build pathways to opportunity for working parents in South LA. The time to act is now.
READ THE FULL REPORT HERE and join the community conversations.