Affordable Housing: When Working Full Time Isn't Good Enough

By Rachel Lorenzo

Operations/IT Program Manager 

Housing Leadership Council of Palm Beach County

When you think of the basic necessities in life, having a roof over your head is at the very top. We are not just talking about a shelter, but a home, a place that you and your family can feel safe and peaceful after a hard day's work.

In Palm Beach County finding affordable housing is not simple but a complicated challenge. When you work in a community, there should be housing you can afford to live in and ideally you should have options. Sadly in our county that is not the case.   In November of 2014 the median rent in Palm Beach County was $1796 per month*. In order to afford rent without being cost burdened (over 30% of your income), that would mean you would need to make $71,000.00 a year or $34.00 per hour.   There are many people in our community we depend on everyday that make nowhere near $34.00 per hour including teachers, cashiers or the mechanic who changes the oil on your car.   Unless you are a car savvy, changing your own oil would be a problem.  

 Although more people are choosing to rent, owning a home should also be an option. In fact, purchasing a home is typically less expensive that renting in a high cost rental market like ours. If you are a childcare worker in our community you could afford a house that costs $75,000 or less. According to this map that was created to demonstrate affordability in 2014*, there is almost no stock under $75,000 and certainly no other options.

http://public.tableausoftware.com/views/MiamiAff/MapDash?:showVizHome=no#1 

And if you make minimum wage, you would need to find a house under $30K or rent under $500 a month which would be like finding the proverbial pot of gold at the end of the rainbow in Palm Beach County.

So what can be done?

Actually there are organizations and businesses working everyday to provide more opportunities for affordable housing. The Housing Leadership Council of Palm Beach County (HLC) collaborates with housing non-profits, affordable housing developers, municipalities to help identify solutions that will create and preserve housing that is affordable to our workforce. This is not an easy job, but it is a worthwhile one. HLC strives to help our workforce have choices in housing, and within their budgets. We want to make affordable housing a simple choice, not a difficult one. Help us spread the word that if you work in Palm Beach County, you deserve an affordable, attainable, appropriate, and sustainable place to call home.

* Zillow

Consider Becoming an HLC Partner Today to help us continue to fight for Affordable Housing Options for All of Palm Beach County!!

The Housing Leadership Council of Palm Beach County, Inc. is a 501(c )(3) non-profit organization. Contributions are deductible to the fullest extent allowable by law. A copy of the official registration and financial information may be obtained from the Division of Consumer Services by calling toll free 1-800-435-7352 within the state. Registration does not imply endorsement, approval or recommendation. CH 85-8013812806C-8