Conflicting reports regarding the future of Houchen Daycare Center

Monday morning, the vice president of Houchen, came to ABC-7’s studio asking the station to announce that the child development center will in fact be closing on Friday.

Earlier this month, parents and staff were surprised when they showed up to the center in South-Central El Paso, only to find it all locked up. Those in charge of Houchen told us at that time it was all because of funding issues, but then it quickly re-opened.

Daniel Armendariz said after 35 years the grants and donations just aren’t covering the cost to operate the daycare.

“I love the place but with the economy, you just have to do what you have to do,” Armendariz said. “But God willing we will open up again.”

Armendariz said parents who rely on the center should start looking around for another daycare provider.

He also said the center must first work on a few violations before re-opening.

When asked by ABC-7 what those violations were, Armendarizdeclined to comment.

Board member Lucy Burciaga and interim board treasurer Oscar Garcia said the daycare will stay open.

“(Armendariz) needs to get his facts straight before he comes on TV and says the center is closing,” said Garcia. “One cannot close a center that’s been open for 119 years overnight.”

“We’re open today and we’ll be open on Monday again,” saidBurciaga.

“We have a cash flow problem,” admitted Garcia. He said the daycare has been running on debt for more than two years “We’re running about a $5,000 deficit each month, but we have foundation money.”

Burciaga has worked at Houchen for over half a century and said she’s confident the center will rebound from it’s financial difficulties, and ultimately stay open.

“Here we are,” said Burciaga. “We manage, and we will manage again.”