Thursday, July 24, 2025

The reality of working full-time without housing. 

“Skyrocketing rents, low wages, and a lack of tenant rights have produced a startling phenomenon. People with full-time jobs cannot keep a roof over their head.” 

So reads the introduction to the recently released bestselling book: There Is No Place for Us: Working and Homeless in America. 

In it, author Brian Goldstone shares an intimate picture of the lives of five Atlanta families representing the dramatic rise of the working homeless in cities across America. 

Confronting the Reality of Full-Time Employment without Housing 

The prevailing stereotype of people experiencing homelessness are people unemployed, struggling with issues that prevent them from securing work. 

However, a significant portion of the homeless population in the US defies this misconception by maintaining employment.
Including full-time positions. Yet still lacking stable housing. 

Here’s why.

Unaffordable Housing Costs:

The United States Interagency Council on Homelessness highlights that as many as 40%-60% of people experiencing homelessness have jobs, but housing remains unaffordable because wages have not kept pace with rising rents. 

Insufficient Wages: 

Across the U.S., earnings from full-time employment, particularly at minimum wage, are insufficient to cover the cost of housing. There is no county or state where a full-time minimum-wage worker can afford a modest apartment. At minimum wage, people have to work 86 hours a week to afford a one-bedroom. 

Lack of Affordable Housing: 

Even when individuals can afford housing, the shortage of affordable units exacerbates the problem, leaving many without options. Today, only 37 affordable homes are available for every 100 extremely low-income renters.

As a result, 70% of the lowest-wage households spend more than half their income on rent, placing them at high risk of homelessness when unexpected expenses (such as car repairs and medical bills) arise. 

Or facing rising costs on everything from groceries and household goods to childcare.  

Understanding that employment does not automatically resolve homelessness is crucial. Addressing the issues that prevent hardworking individuals from securing stable housing is essential for creating a community where employment and housing stability go hand in hand. 

The post The Working Homeless appeared first on Strategies to End Homelessness.