Study Highlights Housing Struggle For Georgia’s Minimum Wage Earners
Georgia workers would need to clock in nearly 100 hours a week at minimum wage in order to afford a typical, modest two-bedroom apartment, according to a report.
It can be hard to afford housing if you’re a Georgian working for $7.25 an hour — the federal minimum wage.
A new study called “Out of Reach 2018,” conducted by the National Low Income Housing Coalition, sheds light on this.
Georgia workers would need to clock in nearly 100 hours a week at minimum wage in order to afford a typical, modest two-bedroom apartment, according to the report.
The study also found those who want to work a usual business week — 40 hours — and afford a two-bedroom apartment would need to earn $17.53 an hour.
Andrew Aurand, vice president for research at NLIHC and one of the authors of the report, said Georgia isn’t the only state struggling with housing affordability.
“Sadly, this is a national problem. You know obviously there is an affordability problem in Georgia and in the Atlanta region. And you find that everywhere,” Aurand said.
The study ranked Georgia 27th in the nation for housing affordability.
Aurand also said the high costs of housing can leave low-income workers vulnerable.
“Many of them are working and yet they’re spending more than half of their income on rent. And that’s not sustainable,” he said. “Especially when emergencies come up.”
Metro Savannah was ranked one of the most expensive places in Georgia to make rent.
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