Housing moves out of reach

A professor at San Jose State University lives in her car. Workers around the country struggle to afford housing. We see it on the news, largely centered around places you might expect to have high housing costs. California, New York come to mind, but the numbers show it's a pervasive problem much closer to home. The United Way has developed research centered around ALICE - Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed, to bring hard data to help explain what's happening around the country for working individuals and families. "ALICE is your child care worker, your parent on Social Security, the cashier at your supermarket, the gas attendant, the salesperson at your big box store, your waitress, a home health aide, an office clerk. ALICE cannot always pay the bills, has little or nothing in savings, and is forced to make tough choices such as deciding between quality child care or paying the rent. One unexpected car repair or medical bill can push these financially strapped families over the edge." 

How does that look in Georgia? In North Fulton? The National Low Income Housing Coalition has issued a report that illustrates what's happening. Using a formula that assumes a 40-hour work week, 52 weeks a year, without paying more than 30% of income on housing, and factoring in housing costs in Georgia, NLIHC has developed a 'Housing Wage' needed. In Fulton County, that wage needs to be about $19 per hour for 2-bedroom housing. Georgia's minimum wage is $7.25. That's assuming the average monthly rent on a 2-bedroom home is under $1000. A look at local listings shows the Roswell average is closer to $1270. 

This is a population without a traditional lobbying mechanism, so nonprofits like United Way and NLIHC are working to sound the alarm through data.  Specific faces and stories help illustrate the issue in the media. New ideas are being developed around the country, and hopefully some best practices will emerge.