Employment Doesn’t Guarantee Housing

People are often surprised that many people experiencing homelessness are employed. The One Institute for Children, Poverty & Homelessness survey found that 31 percent of homeless parents had paid positions, with 65 percent working full time. 

The challenge is that most people earning a minimum wage in our country cannot afford the cost of housing. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC), the average minimum wage employee must work 97 hours per week to afford a fair market rate two-bedroom apartment. That's over TWO full-time jobs!

The NLIHC defines housing that's "affordable" as anything that costs less than 30 percent of one's monthly income. In 2020, the NLIHC put the national housing wage, or the amount someone would have to make to afford a fair market two-bedroom rental without spending more than 30 percent of their income, at $23.96 per hour.

The sad reality is that having a job does not guarantee to house, and it's common for people to leave their shift at work and go back to a shelter. There are many factors involved in solving affordable housing; however, I am writing this email to break down the stereotypes that keep people from being engaged around issues concerning homelessness.