Washington, DC – April 14, 2009 – (RealEstateRama) — According to a National report released today on rental costs for every county, metropolitan area and state in the nation, the Housing Wage for Ohio is $13.14. The Housing Wage is the hourly wage a family must earn – working 40 hours a week, 52 weeks a year – to be able to afford rent and utilities in the private housing market. This represents an increase of 26.9% since 2000.
“Every year it is becoming more difficult for low income families to find decent homes they can afford in Ohio,” said Bill Faith, Executive Director of the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio (COHHIO). “This report clearly illustrates the pressing need for affordable housing in our communities.”
The report, Out of Reach 2009, was jointly released by the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC), a Washington, DC-based housing advocacy group, and COHHIO, an Ohiobased housing advocacy group. The report provides the Housing Wage and other data for every state, metropolitan area and county in the country.
Working at the minimum wage, an Ohio family must have 1.8 wage earners working full-time – or one full-time earner working 72 hours per week – to afford a modest two-bedroom apartment.
The typical renter in Ohio earns $12.24, which is $0.90 less than the hourly wage needed to afford a modest 2 bedroom unit.
An estimated 45% of renters in Ohio do not earn enough income to afford a two-bedroom unit at the Fair Market Rent. This represents nearly 618,000 Ohio renters.
COHHIO is a coalition of organizations and individuals committed to ending homelessness and to promoting decent, safe, fair, affordable housing for all, with a focus on assisting low-income people and those with special needs.
For additional information, visit http://www.nlihc.org/oor/oor2009/
