Sticker shock for rent

By Mike Benbow

Herald Writer

It’s getting tougher and tougher for renters to afford the roof over their heads, especially in Snohomish County.

That’s the report from an advocacy group’s analysis of government statistics, which showed that a worker or family in the county must earn $16.25 per hour, or $33,800 a year, to afford even a modest two-bedroom apartment.

By comparison, the average U.S. worker must earn at least $13.87 an hour, or $28,850 annually, to afford a similar apartment, according to the annual "Out of Reach" report by the National Low Income Housing Coalition, which was released Tuesday.

The study is based on the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s determinations of fair market rents in 3,779 states, metropolitan areas and counties or New England towns.

The coalition established a "housing wage" for each jurisdiction by calculating the earnings a person would need to pay no more than 30 percent of income for rent, widely viewed as low for most markets.

The housing wage here is less than the nation’s $16.97-an-hour median paycheck in 2000, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. But it is far more than the minimum wage, set by state law at $6.72 an hour for residents of Washington.

Minimum wage earners in the county must work 97 hours per week (without overtime pay) to afford a two-bedroom unit, according to the Washington Low Income Housing Network.

"Low-wage workers in Snohomish County are faced with an impossible task when they search for decent, affordable housing," said Ed Petersen of the county’s Housing Hope, a nonprofit agency. "The report shows the need for increased housing assistance to minimum wage workers and those with even lower incomes."

There were 72,470 renters in the county in 2000, according to census data.

The report noted that 44 percent of renters in Washington state paid more than 30 percent of their incomes for rent.

The 30 percent figure is what HUD considers an affordable level because those who spend more generally don’t have enough for other necessities such as food, clothing, transportation and medical care.

Almost a third of American households pay more, a recent report by Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies found.

The income needed to afford a two-bedroom apartment in Washington state grew by nearly 11 percent during the past year, according to the advocacy group.

Individuals or families must earn a housing wage of $29,117 annually, or about $14 an hour, to afford the state’s average two-bedroom apartment, the report noted.

The coalition analysis concluded that the gap between a minimum-wage salary and the cost of housing is widening almost everywhere. The Washington-based advocacy group issued the report to challenge the idea that the minimum wage is adequate to cover living expenses.

Washington ranked as the 14th most expensive state in the nation for housing costs.

Average two-bedroom apartments were most expensive in California and the mid-Atlantic region of the East Coast, while those in Puerto Rico and much of the South were cheapest, the report showed.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

Firefighters respond to a 911 call on July 16, 2024, in Mill Creek. Firefighters from South County Fire, Tulalip Bay Fire Department and Camano Island Fire and Rescue left Wednesday to help fight the LA fires. (Photo provided by South County Fire)
Help is on the way: Snohomish County firefighters en route to LA fires

The Los Angeles wildfires have caused at least 180,000 evacuations. The crews expect to arrive Friday.

x
Edmonds police shooting investigation includes possibility of gang violence

The 18-year-old victim remains in critical condition as of Friday morning.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River. Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett council approves water, sewer rate increases

The 43% rise in combined water and sewer rates will pay for large infrastructure projects.

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

Devani Padron, left, Daisy Ramos perform during dance class at Mari's Place Monday afternoon in Everett on July 13, 2016. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Mari’s Place helps children build confidence and design a better future

The Everett-based nonprofit offers free and low-cost classes in art, music, theater and dance for children ages 5 to 14.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

The Everett Municipal Building on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Everett council approves $111 million construction of sewer project

The Port Gardner Storage Facility, in the works for more than a decade, will help prevent overflows of the city sewer system.

Two students walk along a path through campus Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022, at Everett Community College in Everett, Washington. A group of nearly 20 community groups are planning to study how to make it easier for young people to find jobs. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Goal for Everett coalition: Make it easier for young people to find jobs

The organizations hope the months-long process will improve access to resources for young people.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.