DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Sunday, April 06, 2014
The rent is too damn high
According to a new report by the National Low Income Housing Coalition, a person would have to make about $19 dollars an hour to afford the cost of an average two-bedroom apartment. And, while in some states a person would have to earn even more, there's almost nowhere in our nation that someone could afford a two-bedroom apartment on minimum wage. Every year, the cost of housing continues to rise, but wages have stayed stagnant for decades. Sheila Crowley, president of the NLIHC, explained that "Increasing the stock of affordable housing is a critical part of addressing the extreme shortage of affordable housing in America." But, we also need to push wages up towards today's housing prices. People who work full time should be able to afford a modest apartment, and we have to tackle this problem from both ends.
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9 comments:
The problem I see with this, and Joe correct me if I'm wrong as I have no business experience, is when you raise minimum wage by over 30% then you will have to offset those that buy increasing the cost of your product. We are talking far more than just a burger at your local fast food joint. We are talking about lower pay manufacturing jobs, farm labor...Then how do you justify paying an EMT, CNA, CMA, ER tech... jobs which require an actual certification or license the new minimum wage.
Raise minimum wage = employers raise prices for goods to cover overheads = inflation increases = rent goes up more.
Work hard, show some motivation = higher position = more money = afford rent.
Maybe that's why so many are moving to Salisbury -- the rent subsidy capital of Maryland. And there are more projects coming soon to a neighborhood near you!
Imagine how much worse off they would be without low price stores like Wal-Mart, which you have bashed in a post below.
Is that $19/ hr for a 29 hour "full time" week, or a 40 hr week?
29 hours @ $19 won't pay enough. 40 hours is needed, and it's not out there any more for the minimums...
What about welfare queens like Laura Mitchell and her "touchy-feely" spouse?
Check out the dumps that are Section 8 housing...then check out the outrageous rent charged for them. Thanks once again to our government. Sadly, those that really need and deserve the assistance are getting lumped in with the "do nothings" that live on government handouts (OUR pockets). I am sick, sick, sick of watching perfectly able people have homes, cars, beautiful clothes, great food and NO JOB.
I am on govt assistance and trust me I don't like it one bit.. I have been trying to find work since Jan and I have had no luck.. I am perfectly able to work but have no car and no beautiful clothes and definitely not . great food. you are right about one thing most section 8 homes are not in great areas. the rent around here forthose that need help are RIDICULOUS and no wonder that there are a lot of us homeless or staying with friends and this can become a burden to the friend as well.
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