How child care costs are impacting San Diego

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) --  Child care costs in San Diego have skyrocketed, matching mortgage expenses and hindering parents' return to work, experts say.

Jerry Sanders, president of the San Diego Chamber of Commerce, stressed the need for affordable child care.

“Business needs to have women in the workforce back and if they can’t get childcare, can't get reasonable child care, then they simply get those women back,” Sanders said.

Sanders, a former San Diego Mayor, spoke from personal experience, noting his daughter's hefty child care expenses.

Highlighting a disconnect among some business owners, Sanders noted, "Their kids are either in high school or out of school, they are not really seeing how difficult it is for their employees to get child care."

To address the issue, the Chamber of Commerce partnered with Tootris, a child care platform, are offering member companies access to local child care solutions.

Alessandra Lezama, CEO of Tootris Childcare, highlighted the importance of the collaboration.

"We're providing on-demand child care solutions," Lezama stated.

To amplify their efforts, Tootris and the Chamber of Commerce plan to lobby U.S. leaders in Washington for increased child care access.