According to this story from The Atlantic's Citylab, a new report by the National Low Income Housing Coalition has found that the hourly wage needed to afford even a modest apartment in America has risen considerably in the last year—and in Oregon? If you were looking to rent a two bedroom apartment, you'd probably need to be making $19.38 per hour. (By comparison, if you wanted a two bedroom in Multnomah County last year you'd need to be making $18.15 per hour.) But let's just say you're looking for a one bedroom. A minimum wage employee would need to work 68 hours per week just to afford it.
So is raising the minimum wage the answer? Not according to this report. The best thing a city could do to help these people—those providing the necessary services we take for granted every day—is to build more affordable housing. In other words, DENSITY. And not just upscale apartments favored by the take-the-money-and-run developers who have zero interest in the sustainability of a livable Portland.
It's a super interesting and fact-packed article. READ IT HERE. And read the National Low Income Housing Coalition's full report HERE.
Also of extreme interest: Housing activists show up at a Portland landlord gala, and raise all sorts of hell.