Working for minimum wage? Only 4 counties in the U.S. are affordable

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

WASHINGTON — In only four of the nation's 3,066 counties can someone working full-time and earning federal minimum wage afford to pay rent and utilities on a one-bedroom apartment, an advocacy group on low-income housing reported Monday.

A two-bedroom rental is even more of a burden — the typical worker must earn at least $15.37 an hour to pay rent and utilities, the National Low Income Housing Coalition said in its annual "Out of Reach" report. That's nearly three times the federal minimum wage of $5.15 an hour.

"You get pushed into a situation where some necessities don't get paid for" because more salary must be devoted to housing, said Sheila Crowley, the coalition's executive director. "For people on low-wage fixed incomes, that's a chronic way of life."

About 36 million homes in the United States are rented. Roughly 80 percent of renter homes are located in nearly 1,000 counties in which a family must work over 80 hours a week — or more than two full-time jobs — at minimum wage to afford the typical two-bedroom apartment, the coalition said.

http://www.djc.com/news/re/11164005.html

[DustMolecule]

1. Those people can't even BEGIN to think about saving anything

for retirement, a home of their own, college for their children....yet they work their *sses off. It's a national shame!

[Lefty48197]

2. Yeah, I think it's a crisis of humanity

.

[mhr]

3. Unemployed 54 Months - Dinner Tonight - Beans - Dinner Last Night - Beans

Dinner tomorrow night - Beans

'nuff said

[TO Kid]

5. Um, don't take this the wrong way..

What is your work background? What part of the country do you live in? Have you explored opportunities in your field that would mean relocating? Have you considered getting qualifications in a different field?

The reason I ask is that I was in a similar situation in 1990 but I wasn't out of work as long (two bouts of unemployment, 8 months total, over two years). I had a job that paid (barely) enough to live on in a field where it was easy to find work until the recession hit. During my job hunt I got depressed when I realized that even if I found work, no matter how long I stuck around I'd never make more than ten bucks an hour, which won't even pay for a 1-bedroom apartment here. I decided to get some training and bluff my way into another line of work, and even though it took another five years of doing crappy jobs for asshole bosses, where I am now made it worthwhile.

Good luck in your search.

[mhr]

7. All Good Suggestions Already Tried - Over 2,500 Resumes Out The Door

CV Includes,

15+ years of professional work experience
BSEE
MBA
Commercial Pilot
Honorably Discharged Naval Officer

I have not heard from an interested company in years.

Retrain, Retrain for what?

[Anakin Skywalker]

9. An @$$hole like Bush Wants

us all to serve at fast food joints!

[CountAllVotes]

6. wow I'm sorry

I was unemployed for a long time myself and I know how frustrating it is.

Hang in there. Hopefully the tide will turn and something will come your way.

When I found a job, I got 3 offers in one day after looking for almost 2 years! It was a total shock. I was so desperate I was willing to take anything but luckily I got a job with full benefits albeit part-time. Is was great having a choice and I'd about given up.

[TO Kid]

4. This says nothing new or actionable really

The more significant questions are how difficult it is to get a better job and how many earners in the workplace are unable to afford their homes. Minimum wage when you're 18 is tolerable, when you're 30 it's a nightmare.

[FormerDittoHead]

8. What % of their money will be taxed with a National Sales Tax? *100%*

...and those making much more money, who have money left over from their paycheck (and don't spend it) will pay a LOWER EFFECTIVE RATE.

Yeah.

Flat is fair.

National Sales Tax is fair.

I guess if you can sell it to the red states, it must be true.