Pennington, New Jersey – March 22, 2009 – Parents struggling to pay their bills and worrying about keeping their jobs in the current economic crisis also have to worry about another problem: child care. The costs of child care in the United States have skyrocketed in recent years. With many children spending an average of 36 hours per week with a babysitter at a cost of $30 to $70 per day, many parents are facing a tough decision: working or staying home with their children out of financial necessity. Thankfully, a new option has emerged on the horizon and could save parents who desperately need that second income. The answer can be found at a web site called Host & Care (http://hostandcare.com). The purpose of this site is to help people find others who can provide the assistance they need. In exchange the person searching for assistance is going to need some help of their own. For example, the parents needing child care can offer a free room to potential babysitters. People who need help with their housing costs or who want a temporary place to stay for a few weeks or months can find this option a good way to meet their needs as well. Host & Care does encourage members of their site to take appropriate precautions before allowing other members to have contact with their children. The site offers affordable background and reference checks so parents can feel good about using this money saving option. The babysitter-to-be can even chat with the children and parents via the Web 2.0 elements of the online community, including video streaming and chat rooms. The site offers an opportunity many people need in today’s economy: a chance to use bartering to get what they need. And through the site people are able to help on another at a time when compassion, trust, and altruism seem to be in short supply. About Host & Care Host & Care was founded by Lidia Nash, a Certified Information Technology Professional (CITP) and CPA, in 2008. The company was designed as a free online community that assists in connecting people in need of services with those in need of accommodations. The overreaching mission of the company, according to Nash, is to help people improve their lives. The community is open to people from all over the globe. Contact: Lidia Nash Host & Care 24 Baker Way Pennington, New Jersey 08534 customerservice@hostandcare.com http://hostandcare.com