HAC’s Analysis of Out of Reach 2014, a publication of the National Low-Income Housing Coalition.

Housing Remains Unaffordable for Minimum Wage Workers

The National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) released its annual Out of Reach report for 2014 on March 24th. This is the 25th anniversary of the report known for defining the Housing Wage; the wage one must earn in order to afford a rental unit at Fair Market Rent (FMR). NLIHC estimates the 2014 national Housing Wage needed to afford the FMR for a two bedroom unit ($984 per month) is $18.92.

What About Rural Renters?

Out of Reach highlights the fact that rural renters are still not earning enough to afford quality housing either. Although housing costs tend to be lower in rural areas, the average wage for renters outside of metropolitan areas is lower as well. NLIHC estimates that the average hourly wage for renters outside of metropolitan areas is $10.24, which falls $3 short of the Housing Wage necessary to afford FMR housing. The two-bedroom housing wage outside of metropolitan areas is out of reach for those earning the average renter wage in all but two states.