Housing Still “Out Of Reach” For Many Californians

The National Low Income Housing Coalition’s annual “Out Of Reach” report was released last week with information for 2009.

According to Out Of Reach 2009 (released last week by the National Low Income Housing Coalition), California’s “Housing Wage” is now $24.83 per hour. The Housing Wage is the hourly wage a full-time worker must earn to afford rent and utilities for an average two-bedroom apartment. The typical renter in California earns $17.52 per hour. An individual earning minimum wage ($8.00 per hour) would have to work 124 hours per week to afford a modest two-bedroom apartment.

An estimated 58 percent of California renters do not earn enough to afford a two-bedroom apartment at the Fair Market Rent.