Expensive Housing at the Expense of Basic Needs

13 December 2003 - 11:00am

A study on poverty in the San Francisco area shows that skyrocketing housing costs have kept residents from meeting basic household budgets.

A recent study found that "[r]ising housing costs have fueled a dramatic increase in living expenses for East Bay residents and left a growing number of families earning less than what they need." The study uses the self-sufficiency standard, rather than outdated poverty measures from the 1960's to gauge the disparity between household incomes and costs. According to the study's researcher, 'Costs are growing faster than people's income...It means people are doubling up and people are working two jobs.'"

Source: Contra Costa Times-Walnut Creek, December 11, 2003
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Most importantly, we should acknowledge that a consensus building event forms at one time around one cluster among many interacting issues and actions. Other efforts will and should emerge around clusters of other issues and actions.