New Local Data on Affordability of Rental Housing in PA

According to a newly released national report, the Housing Wage for Pennsylvania is $16.06. 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 the rent and utilities for a safe and modest home in the private housing market.

The report, Out of Reach 2012: America’s Forgotten Housing Crisis, was jointly released by the National Low Income Housing Coalition, a Washington, D.C.-based research and advocacy organization, and the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania. The report provides the Housing Wage and other housing affordability data for every state, metropolitan area, combined non metropolitan area, and county in the country.

“Data from Out of Reach supports what we know about PA: low income families are still struggling to find decent and affordable housing in communities across the state,” said Liz Hersh, “While we work to rebuild our economy after the recession, we cannot forget the low income families across America whose basic housing needs continue to be unmet.”

Working at the minimum wage in Pennsylvania, a family must have 2.2 minimum wage earners working full-time – or one full-time earner working 89 – to afford a modest two-bedroom apartment. 

The typical renter in Pennsylvania earns $12.86, which is $3.20 less than the hourly wage needed to afford a modest unit.

The National Housing Wage is $18.25 in 2012.

A Fact Sheet for PA counties is available HERE or see attached.

For additional information, visit www.nlihc.org/oor/2012