Employment, child and adult day care, housing, and the caregiver crisis present overwhelming obstacles for families and individuals. 

40 million
Approximate number who rely on paid care-such as nannies, daycares, or nursing homes-to go to work, meaning that when paid care falls through, they are at risk of mission work or leaving their paid jobs altogether. (BCG)

290 billion
The U.S. is expected to lose around $290 billion in GDP a year by 2030, as a result of the care crisis. (BCD)

50 million
More than 50 million people rely on unpaid care, including family, friends, neighbors, and others, or do it all themselves. (BCG/Dynata)

32 percent
There is 32% unmet need in licensed child care slots, averaged across 25 states. (Child Care Aware)

700 thousand
Public systems are spread thin, resulting in years-long waits for HCBS (Home and Community-Based Services). Across the U.S., nearly 700,000 people are Medicaid HCBS waiting or interest lists-highlighting a widespread challenge in access to supports at home and in the community. Reasons and qualifications vary by state. (KFF.org)

82,503
Working families across Minnesota face a deficit of 82,503 unmet quality child care slots. Around 1 in 4 children under the age of 6 do not have access to child care in Minnesota. (Child Care Aware)

X2
Unemployment rates were twice as high for people with a disability than for those with no disability. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025)

61 percent
61% of the nation’s 48 million family caregivers are also holding down jobs. (AARP 2024) Family caregivers report one of the single toughest things is the inability to take time off for themselves. (AARP 2023)

3/5
There is a “mounting burden on Americans and the economy, which loses hundreds of billions of dollars a year as caregivers-three fifths of whom are women-drop out of the workforce or reduce their employment to support family members.” (GoozNews)

18,000
There were nearly 18,00 people with disabilities in Olmsted County in 2023, up 20% from 2014. (U.S. Census ACS table)

97.5 percent
A full-time minimum wage salary in Minnesota is $23,150; this means that infant care cost 97.5% of the share of minimum wage earnings. (Economic Policy Institute)

51 weeks
A minimum wage worker in Minnesota would need to work full time for 51 weeks, or from January to December, just to pay for childcare for on infant. (Economic Policy Institute)

67 percent
Two-thirds of family caregivers report difficulty balancing work and care. (AARP/NAC)

3 years
The average wait for HCBS is 36 months. (KFF.org)