How many of you have had tenants you either inherited or put into a place where the income was at or below $800/month? I'm just curious....seems like there are a lot of folks barely getting by on SSI / whatever. I try to understand how someone thinks that's going to work out long term.

Back around the 1930's, property developers and builders and some others decided that they would encourage the public that everyone deserved their own house. Thus was born that idea, at least on a large scale in this country. In conjunction with that, these people pressured the cities to get rid of rooming houses. Until that time, it was common for single people to have a room in a rooming house, in many cases. Some had room and board, some not. The mom and pop small diner was more common, as many people routinely took their meals there.

As the advertising worked, combined with less rooming houses, the population began to think this was NORMAL.

After World War II, when there were many returning GI's, the subdivision was born. The burbs. At that time it really kicked in , especially with govt help for the GI's to buy houses.

These days, we can see that wages have not kept up with housing costs or inflation.Compared to 1970 ages of about $2,50 or $3.00 per hour, today's minimum of $7.25 has less buying power. Rent that was $50-$85 per month is now, much, much higher. Even with two earners in a house, it often is not enough. Millions of people with minimal skills have fallen WAY behind.

The obvious solution to me is to bring back rooming houses. Unfortunately, I don't see this as very possible. Instead, the govt and most people still want their own place, not sharing a place. So the govt rolls out these endless plans of welfare and govt housing and low income housing.In my opinion, they won't work. After 60+ years, we have plenty of examles of this. I really don't see a solution. The big cities are full of problems that don't seem to have a solution. If people want to live further out, they need cars and all that goes with that. Mass transit is a joke and has been shown to only be somewhat practical in cities with high rise buildings and large populations. As some examples, it works in New York City but not very well in Los Angeles.

If I had to make a guess as to a solution, I would say this:

That used to be just enough to qualify for the smallest room in my rooming house.

Only going to get worse if you follow international money exchange rates. Because of the amount stimulus we have pumped into the economy thus far, the dollar is down against ALL major foreign currencies. If we continue to print greenbacks, the cost of those smokes, cigs and beans will be even more expensive.

Ray gets an A in Economics... politicians, F.

Thanks all.... this wasn't intended from me as a rant. I really don't understand how it works nor how other people seem to think it's supposed to work. It sounds like some (older) folks are living in the world their parents/grandparents grew up in, and younger folks simply don't have a clue other than expecting the Govt to provide, which is why they vote for Bernie Sanders and those like him who insist on two chickens in every pot, a pot for every house, and a single family house for every person.

The rooming house was a great reminder. I lived in one during college with 4-6 other people, depending on who graduated and who was moving in. Aside from the semi-private nature of the place, it wasn't terrible. We cleaned common areas, took turns mowing the yard, split the cable and phone bill, and each paid $150/month for the house with utilities included. Cheap living in the late 90s near a college campus. Made some good memories in that place!

Just to note it, I have a 4-plex in a small/tiny town. It is all 2-BR units that rent for $510/month. I require 2.5x the rent -- so they need to make only $1,275/month at a job or other income.

I've had people in there working minimum wage (or, heck, even less) for years with no problem with the rent. All of them have paid through the entire pandemic.

I get that this isn't Sid's example exactly, of course -- but all the time I hear how "in no state can someone rent an apartment and survive on minimum wage." While that might be true with averages across the state -- it certainly is not true in my little town... Here, they can easy qualify for a 2BR apartment if they make minimum wage!

- John...

John....my town is the same, which is one reason I call Baloney Slices on all the talking head libs on TV. The truth of the matter is if people will relocated, most could survive at a basic level.

Minimum wage in Missouri is presently $10.30, up from $9.45 last year. We passed a 5 year wage hike that will end up at $12 / hour in 2023.

Even at the old rate of $7.85 several years ago, 2000 hours per year.... you're making $15,700 / year or $1308 a month. So you could almost meet my 3x the monthly rent qualification on my cheapest unit which is $450. Probably close enough to where I would approve with an extra deposit.

The kicker is most of those folks also qualify for earned income tax credit and other Govt programs, so most likely if you added those all up they're between $20,000 - $25,000 per month. No, you can't support a family on that very easily, but you can definitely rent an inexpensive apartment or house, buy food, and get to work. Add in the "free" medical care via the Emergency Room and all of one's major expenses are covered.

Yes, it is possible to live simply in small towns, or even medium size towns all over the country.

Here's a parting consideration: even though I oppose the concept of the minimum wage, once they hit $12/hour then income will be $24,000 annually ($2000/month). Any guesses which direction rents (and all other expenses) are headed?

SSI only income folks getting $800/month will be priced out. Once more, we have the Govt to "helping" the poor by making things unaffordable for them.

...The kicker is most of those folks also qualify for earned income tax credit and other Govt programs, so most likely if you added those all up they're between $20,000 - $25,000 per month. No, you can't support a family on that very easily...

I hear you. I got into a bit of an argument on FB with a longtime friend who argued with me that expecting people ot make 3X the rent was excessive.

My response: I'm renting a 1-bed/1-bath duplex for $400/month. Another is $515/month. At the time, the local gas station was paying $12.50 an hour and is always hiring. DQ was advertising $10 an hour.

A person CAN work one of those jobs and earn 3 - 4 times the rent. It is NOT unreasonable to expect a person to have an income of $1200 a month to rent my $400 a month place.

My friend stopped arguing. Where she is, a coastal area, rent is A LOT higher. She had forgotten how much cheaper it is where I am.

That said, $800 a month would be tough even for my $400 a month place. Yes, they would likely get SNAP benefits, and probably heating assistance. So $400/month for rent, then another $100/month for utilities (more or less) is surviveable, but wow.

Minimum wage here is $7.25.

Sales tax is 9.25%

I've never had anyone even apply with income that low. But, I have had people apply for my $1,100/mo rent house with ....

1) Income of $1,300/mo

2) One week on the job

3) Child support court record not finalized...don't know how much they will have to pay yet

4) Enough earrings and nose rings that they should avoid large magnets

5) Wearing a tshirt that said "Weed Rules"

Interesting that you are from Texas and saying that, Pmh... A quick check of Labor Statistics (granted, all I could find handy was from 2013-2015), shows that about 400,000 workers in Texas who make at or below the current federal

minimum wage of $7.25 per hour – more than any other state.

You literally are in the state with the MOST people getting only minimum wage. So, clearly, some people DO get paid that amount.

- John...

TN clearly hasn't caught up with other states.

Pmh, I looked it up for TN.

I'm not politically or economically saavy so perhaps that's the issue here. I don't understand the whole minimum wage debate.

I worked in the mall at 15 years of age for minimum wage. My other friends worked restaurants, grocery stores, gas stations, etc., all for minimum wage at 15 and 16 years of age.