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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsRent is out of reach for minimum-wage workers in every state. This map shows how far out of reach
If youre being paid minimum wage, forget about being able to afford a two-bedroom apartment. In fact, forget about being able to afford a one-bedroom apartment. According to the annual report on wages and housing costs from the National Low Income Housing Coalition, theres nowhere in the country either of those things can come close to happening for workers making the federal minimum wage and working a mere 40 hours a week:
The 2017 national Housing Wage is $21.21per hour for a two-bedroom rental home, or more than 2.9 times higher than the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. The 2017 Housing Wage for a one-bedroom rental home is $17.14, or 2.4 times higher than the federal minimum wage. A full-time worker earning the minimum wage needs to work 117 hours per week for all 52 weeks of the year to afford a two-bedroom rental home or 94.5 hours per week for a one-bedroom rental home.
But states and cities have made a lot of progress in recent years, with many having minimum wages far outstripping the federal level. Maybe the situation is better in those places? Somewhat, but nowhere near enough, as it turns out:
Despite a minimum wage higher than the federal level in 29 states, the District of Columbia, and a growing number of local jurisdictions, in no state, metropolitan area, or county can a full-time minimum-wage worker afford a modest two-bedroom rental home. In only 12 counties can a full-time minimum-wage worker afford a modest one-bedroom rental home.
http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/6/13/1671411/-Rent-is-out-of-reach-for-minimum-wage-workers-in-every-state-This-map-shows-how-far-out-of-reach
Motownman78
(491 posts)A 1 bedroom apartment in Nashville is $800 a month with NO utilities.
bagelsforbreakfast
(1,427 posts)RKP5637
(67,111 posts)volstork
(5,402 posts)for exposure. This is important information.
inanna
(3,547 posts)Maybe you could post this in the poverty forum as well?
bresue
(1,007 posts)If people become accustomed to this...after time there would be a major acceptance.
My point is that if minimum wage does not float with the rate of inflation, then after a year or two, the minimum wage is actually digressing. Our disposal money has less value every-time inflation goes up...which it predominantly has over the last century. Economics have known this for years...but nothing is ever done. And why I believe we have repeated dips in the markets.
A free market...means someone has something to sell...but if there is no one to buy....than the economy stagnates. If someone would really evaluate the market ups and downs...they could pinpoint when the minimum wage went up or stagnated.