The RICH are OK. Housing for the Poor however is $15.37/hr for 2/br?

[JanMichael]

NATIONALLY!

That's a joke for most retail workers. Yes there are regional differences and those are CALCULATED. But the fact is the Poor are getting SCREWED.

The system is broken. Out of Reach: 2004: Housing Wage for 2004 $15.37/hr

That's the national wage per hour needed to afford a two bedroom "fair market rate" apartment.

Read about how rising housing costs are hurting the "Average Jill" here.

From the report:

"Families with extremely low incomes (those at 30% or below the area's median income) continue to face the most severe affordability problems. There is not a single metropolitan area where an extremely low income family can be assured of finding a modest two bedroom rental home that is affordable."

As we all know the bottom wage workers are NOT benefiting from increased "Productivity" and barely rising hourly incomes. Basically speaking rents are rising faster than incomes nation-wide.

This spells it out quite clearly what difficulties face low wage workers and families:

"Out of Reach shows both the depth and breadth of the housing shortage in our country. The gap between what people earn and what their housing costs is stark," said Sheila Crowley, President of the National Low Income Housing Coalition. "For the one third of the nation paying too much for their homes, the consequences of ends that do not meet are all too real."

Take this for what it's worth, go to your county on the site and figure out what it takes for a low wage worker to find decent living arrangements. Sure, they could always double up and share the rent with other low wage workers but then one starts to have overcrowding problems which the most powerful-richest-coolest country in the World could never accept, right?

This problem, housing, is not improving. Nothing that the Bush Mis-Administration is doing will correct it either. Their budget slashes the HUD CDBG program by 23% as it is now, the HOME Program is also reduced by about 5%.

All I can say is that time is running out on a passive under-class, they will figure this massive shafting out soon enough, I intend to do my best to stir people up.

EDIT: I want to add that young single mothers are the hardest hit when it comes to rent.

[JanMichael]

1. This is a serious issue that effects millions of people.

Of course Gannon is fun and Abortion is funner (sp?) but man, this is what people need to survive...

[REP]

9. Reproductive Rights Go Hand-in-Hand With This

If you're forced to breed against your will with no welfare, WIC, foodstamps, CHIPS, etc, you're even more unlikely to find affordable housing. Even with meagre government assistance, having children one can't afford does not help with housing costs.

[SmokingJacket]

33. And this is not unrelated to Gannon...

having a false media tossing softballs to the Resident is preventing these issues coming to the forefront, where they SHOULD be. If Gannons weren't pushing stupid false stories, maybe people be asking better questions.

It's all part of one big, sticky ball of bad.

[Bozita]

13. "People are poor because they're lazy." GWB at Harvard B-school

One of his old profs mentioned it.

[barb162]

16. yeah and rich idiots are born with silver spoons in their mouths

[JanMichael]

17. Too bad they don't choke on them.

Had to say it because that's what I wish woud've happened...

[barb162]

37. yeah and most of the time people are poor because they were

born that way. The comment by Bush is so...Bush. He can't get anything straight. And people are rich because most of the time they were born rich.

And a lot of rags to riches stories were never from real rags. Look at Bill Gates (daddy a lawyer who wrote his IBM contracts), Trump with a rich daddy real estate guy....

[Clark2008]

31. .

[JanMichael]

2. Kick this thing UP!

:kick:

[sam sarrha]

4. kick

:kick:

[tkmorris]

3. Preachin to the choir here JM

I agree with you. Wholeheartedly.

That is one of the things I found very appealing about John Edwards in the last campaign. He actually talks about these issue, whereas most politicians never mention anyone that isn't in the middle class or above.

Not much else to add right now, just kicking it to see others views.

[JanMichael]

5. Here's what really funny.

I have a net (The gross is heartily reduced due to my type of job) salary, in a professional position, that has me (We) paying about 25% of my family take home income (2 people) on rent.

30% is the technical rate of "distress".

What REALLY funny is that I'm a fucking policy maker!!!!

Oh what a funny web we're weaving...

[begin_within]

6. The median price of a single-family home in San Diego is now $525,000.

[MNDEM2004]

8. What's the hourly rate

of pay. Also what % do you pay into taxes?

[JanMichael]

11. Look it up, wait, I gave you the link.

But I'll be cool and do it for you: Actually my post #10 did it for San Diego...

[Warpy]

12. yeah, that's California. It's up to $160,000 here in New Mexico

and I'm not talking about the chichi towns of Santa Fe or Taos.

Low wage workers can increasingly be found in mudpit RV parks in camper shells sitting on cinderblocks, if they're lucky enough to have found something like that. Otherwise, they're crammed in with relatives or with too many roommates in a slum apartment or in a shelter or in a sheet metal lean to in the woods.

This is supposed to be one of the wealthiest countries on earth, and too many of us are now living in conditions exactly the same as you'd find anywhere in the third world.

America, TAKE CARE OF YOUR PEOPLE!

[The Zanti Regent]

25. Median price for houses in Mid Wilshire Los Angeles in million $ range

My rent for a single (no bedroom) apartment in Los Angeles is over $1,350 and I still have to pay utilities

[REP]

7. Rent a 2 BR House? Please!

Before I was disabled by illness and on-the-job injury, I couldn't afford to rent, let alone buy, a 2BR house - and I wasn't really poor (and I'm childfree).

[JanMichael]

10. If you made $22.75/hr you could rent a FMR 2/br!

http://www.nlihc.org/oor2004/data.php?getstate=on&getmsa=on&msa%5B%5D=38&state%5B%5D=CA

I love these MSA specific numbers:-)


EDIT: I did the San Diego numbers for your post by mistake, sorry.

[REP]

14. I Made More Than That (Union)

in the SF Bay Area. If I didn't eat, pay utilities, or feed my cats, I could've afforded a bigger apartment.

[JanMichael]

15. Bingo.

This is a problem that neither the Democrats or the Republicans can solve.

So...What would you like to see happen? The Status Quo or perhaps it's time time to change courses?

[REP]

26. I'm a Useless Eater Now ... Whaddya Think?

I'd like to live indoors.

[begin_within]

18. I think the majority of people in San Diego make much less than $22.75,

so most people who live in San Diego have no hope of ever buying a single-family house here, unless they already have a stash of money from somewhere else. The best they could hope for is buying a condo and even those start at $200,000 for a tiny one.

[ikojo]

28. The New York Times Magazine had an article about peope in San

Diego who choose to live in Mexico because they cannot afford to live in SD. It focused primarily on those in the military who are not paid enough to pay rent in the country they are defending. Of course in Mexico they live quite well, some even have cleaning ladies.

I live in an efficiency and cannot foresee a time when I will own a house on my salary and I make just a little over what the article says is needed to rent a place.

[jmm]

19. Even with a college degree it can be tough

In my state the average teacher's salary would be barely above the wage needed to afford a two bedroom apartment.

[JanMichael]

20. I'm waiting for someone to dispute the Congressional accepted numbers.

Really, I know that anecdotal evidence must be out there that says that prices are lower, than the study suggests, in a certain MSA. Come on! Bring it on:-)

You realize though that this is a national study and anomolies are ok, right?

[Solon]

21. Hell, I believe that...

Even in my area, where housing is cheap, relatively, compared to much of the nation, with an average of homes at 125,000 on average, to the high end mansions in gated communities, a freaking single bedroom apartment is still well over 300 a month for rent alone. Its cheaper to get a 2 bedroom with 3 roommates, and even then, its hard as hell to get by. Hell, considering that minimum wage hasn't kept up with inflation since 1968, we are in the beginnings of a crisis that has not been seen since the turn of the century. So far the value of labor accross the board has fallen by about 20-30% over the past 30 years. We cannot keep it up at this rate and be the preeminent economic power we have been, this is not sustainable, this is suicide.

[Dark]

22. Well, the federal living wage is twice the minimum wage. Go figure. n/t

[Sugarbleus]

23. We've been discussing some of these issues in the special

forums. I also bookmarked a few posts from some months back regarding the difficulty people are having just keeping a roof over their heads EVEN though they work and some making a pretty decent salary at that!

I too live south of the San Fran Bay area..I just read an article in my newspaper where folks in the bay area were thinking the housing market had just about topped out. Other's disagree.

In my own community--on Monterey Bay--the average house goes for $700,00 which, according to the news article, is a $63,000 jump from LAST MONT!

I remember back in late 90's when folks in San Fran Bay area and surrounds were having to live in shelters EVEN though they had well paid jobs! The rents were just that outrageous. If memory serves me right, I think they did a news bit on TV about this person who just rode the bus all night in lieu of a home to go to. FERCRISSAKES!

With all that said, think how much harder it is for the lower wage earners and those on fixed incomes!? I read a post in here two nights ago about the plight of low income workers and those without money stuffed into broken down motels in or around the DC area. I think it was posted in the WaPo.

I'm sorry, but when Bush stands up there and talks about housing starts and home ownership, I want to throttle him.

I can't say the housing crisis started with him but I can blame him for not doing something about it; I can also blame him for removing any helps programs to see to it that people get assistance with their rents etc.; I mean what better time to use such programs than right now! You know what they say about kids that torment animals.......WHAT A SADISTIC SOCIOPATH.

[IronLionZion]

24. Yes, I agree but what can we do about it?

Everyone here knows housing and health care and food are a problem in this country. But we need to discuss how to fix this. What can we do? Who can we contact? Which organizations do we donate to or volunteer in?

The people in charge of this country are not fixing it so we the people need to take action. We can think globally, but act locally.

Good organizations to get involved in (google them):
habitat for humanity
Salvation army
local churches and community organizations
local social clubs
homeless shelters
soup kitchens
groups that help responsible people finance housing?

This is a very good topic.

[JanMichael]

27. One of the things that help non-profits of course is local government.

To build housing that is.

Usually in conjunction with state housing tax credits is how a LOT of low/mod rentals get built.

Sadly though the local money is often in the form of CDBG or HOME $$$ which is taking a hit.

CDBG is gone in the proposed budget and HOME have lost about 5% a year for the last two years.

[RoeBear]

29. So where do poor people live?

They are living somewhere right?

[salin]

30. Several responses to the situation I have seen:

taking additional jobs (and if there are kids involved this is very hard on the kids - never see parents, have little supervision, etc.)

extended families moving in together into apartments or small houses so that there are additional earners joining together to pay the rents - have known situations with 8 or more people (some kids) living in two-bedroom apartments.

[MountainLaurel]

34. That's exactly it

Here in DC, rent on a 2BR is probably about $1200/mo. In some areas, what you have are families who rent a 1BR -- the family uses the space in the BR, and then sublets space in the living and dining rooms to single day laborers. There was a story in the Post recently where the parents would have to escort their kids to the bathroom, because they really had no idea what sort of people were staying with them.

And as for the first one, a teacher friend sees firsthand the results of this in his students: kids who can't practice their musical instruments (provided by the school) because in the evenings they have to take care of younger siblings. You can see it in the public libraries after school hours as well -- massive groups of kids unaccompanied by parents. During the days, some parents drop their kids off at the library -- as young as five -- because they can't afford day care.

[RoeBear]

32. So where do poor people live?

They are living somewhere right?

[Colorado Blue]

35. A huge proportion of monthly income goes for rent. That

leaves a pittance for food, clothing, medical care, entertainment (!), everything else. Clothes are all bought used, medical care is absolutely minimal, there are no savings, one is about a week away from the streets. Food is treasured and vegetarian - although this is philosophically by choice also. If there is a choice the cats eat first. One has to plot for months to buy necessary work supplies - in my case, paints, canvas, papers. Occasionally a better-off relative will send a gift or somebody will pay for lessons - a windfall.

Apartment has gone up $300.00/month over the last 10 years. Income, due to illness, etc. has plummetted. But even at best $15.00/hour was GOOD PAY for this DU'er. This I got for secretary work at a huge ad agency in the loop. One of my better straight gigs over the years. Unfortunately it made me very, very sick. Must have been all the Republican bosses:)

As a painter, trying to crawl out of disability, it's more like $1.50/month:)

The upside: having gone bankrupt from illness means NO MORE CREDIT CARDS @ 29.00% INTEREST. HOORAY.

The fear: losing the apartment. Really do NOT, at age 54, want to live outside in Chicago.

The irony: starting to get some attention for artwork at a point in time when "consumer confidence" is waning. Wonder why THAT could be?

Conclusion: YA CAN'T WIN:)

But - Gotta keep on' truckin'! Dying would mean one less Democratic vote so I REFUSE:)

[Colorado Blue]

36. OK - I forgot - poor people frequently live in SLUMS.

[JanMichael]

38. Well there's this thing called being Homeless for one.

However most poor people have a place to live. The problem lies in the cost of housing in proportion to income. Over 3o% in rent/utilities (This is the limit where costs become a "Housing Problem") can bust a budget so things like Medical/Auto Insurance become impossible and sometimes even food becomes an issue.

Does that help?

[Colorado Blue]

39. And I almost forgot - a LOT of poor people live in

RED STATES.

So why the heck do they vote REPUBLICAN??????

I think the Democratic Party can talk to these folks. We have WAY more in common with them than the rich Republicans!