Live data from Hacker News

Minimum Wage Still Can’t Pay For A Two-Bedroom Apartment Anywhere

citylab.com

11–20 of 168 posts

Re: Minimum Wage Still Can’t Pay For A Two-Bedroom Apartment Anywhere

#12

It seems that minimum wage is not, in fact, supposed to support a person 100%, not especially a family.

I am not sure why people think minimum wage must be enough to afford a two-bedroom home. Ideally minimum wage should comfortably allow one person to support... Themselves, minimally. Which means a studio or one bedroom. People should not aim to remain at minimum wage long, but use it as an entry point for somewhere better.

That's fine in an area where these better paying jobs are available, but in many areas of the country, well paying jobs for unskilled workers are scarce, and support systems to help these unskilled workers improve their skills are nonexistent. It can be hard to a person to pull himself out of life-long poverty.

Re: Minimum Wage Still Can’t Pay For A Two-Bedroom Apartment Anywhere

#13

It seems that minimum wage is not, in fact, supposed to support a person 100%, not especially a family.

I am not sure why people think minimum wage must be enough to afford a two-bedroom home. Ideally minimum wage should comfortably allow one person to support... Themselves, minimally. Which means a studio or one bedroom. People should not aim to remain at minimum wage long, but use it as an entry point for somewhere better.

People are using a 1950s-era nuclear family model, with the idea that a minimum wage should support a family of at least two adults and one child. Preferably with a yard, lawn, dog, and white picket fence.

Re: Minimum Wage Still Can’t Pay For A Two-Bedroom Apartment Anywhere

#14

This article like so many others makes a critical mistake in using a median price for minimum earners. A minimum wage earner is not and should not be in the market for a median priced home. A median wage earner would pursue a median priced home. A bottom quartile earner would pursue homes priced in the bottom quartile. Not the median. The title of this article is false. Minimum wage earners can often afford two bedro…

> Minimum wage earners can often afford two bedroom homes priced at the lower end.

[citation needed]

Looking around the bay they appear to simply become homeless, especially if there's any interruption in work, and if they're lucky they're able to move away before this happens.

Re: Minimum Wage Still Can’t Pay For A Two-Bedroom Apartment Anywhere

#18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am not sure why people think minimum wage must be enough to afford a two-bedroom home. Ideally minimum wage should comfortably allow one person to support... Themselves, minimally. Which means a studio or one bedroom. People should not aim to remain at minimum wage long, but use it as an entry point for somewhere better.

Why not? Why shouldn't it? Why is this the proper state of things?

Because it in no way makes sense for someone to hire a first time employee who still lives with their parents for a zero skill job at the rate of "enough to afford a two-bedroom house".

Re: Minimum Wage Still Can’t Pay For A Two-Bedroom Apartment Anywhere

#20

It seems that minimum wage is not, in fact, supposed to support a person 100%, not especially a family.

I am not sure why people think minimum wage must be enough to afford a two-bedroom home. Ideally minimum wage should comfortably allow one person to support... Themselves, minimally. Which means a studio or one bedroom. People should not aim to remain at minimum wage long, but use it as an entry point for somewhere better.

At this point the federal minimum wage is a anachronism. Market forces have risen wages well past it. It doesn't really serve much of a purpose anymore. For example the average Walmart employee makes twice the federal minimum wage.
Post reply on HN