Despite the influx of jobs in America, wage growth has remained stagnant leaving millions of middle-class Americans without savings.  They live paycheck to paycheck as they continue to fight for what generations before them have taken for granted: decent, affordable housing.

The Governing.com states “The need for affordable housing in the U.S. is as great as it’s been in several decades. “There are 8 million people in housing that is defined as ‘worst needs,’” says William M. Rohe, director of urban and regional studies at the University of North Carolina. That means they are paying more than 50 percent of their income in rent or living in overcrowded units or ones that are not up to code”.

These seniors and families-at-risk are afraid to ask for repairs or to insist that housing issues affecting their health and safety be reported. They fear that the attention on these issues and will cause rent creases beyond their ability to pay, or the ultimate eviction! With building materials and labor costs skyrocketing vs. increasing property values many landlords decide that the cost-benefit is not worth the headache and expense and end up selling or demolishing the building thus giving the tenants the boot. 

Especially in Southern California the gap between subsidized low-income housing and high-end apartments is wider than ever.  Local cities recognize that huge percentages of their workforce are heavily burdened by housing costs or intolerable commutes. However in the decade since the calamitous events of 2008, only a few minor steps have been taken to address the growing problem.