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The rent is too darned high

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Illinois

To identify “distressed homeowners and renters,” [John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation] researchers used a housing rule of thumb that requires affordable housing to cost no more than 30 percent of a household’s gross income. In Chicago, 48 percent of people said they were devoting more than 30 percent of their income to rent or a mortgage. In the suburbs, 40 percent were stretching beyond the manageable 30 percent limit. […]

While the problem of finding affordable housing is most acute among people ages 18 to 34, African-Americans and households with incomes under $40,000, 49 percent of those in households with incomes over $75,000 said “it’s challenging to find affordable housing in my area.” Sixty-six percent of people with incomes under $40,000 noted the challenge.

Renters are feeling the pressure much more than homeowners. About 73 percent of renters said they have had to make trade-offs in order to pay for their housing. That compares to 47 percent of homeowners who report trade-offs including building up credit card debt, moving to less safe areas, eliminating their savings for retirement or cutting back on health care.

Lots more better-paying jobs could help, too. Just sayin…

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jun 16, 16 @ 11:19 am

Comments

But yet many are out to destroy unions. Unions equal better paying jobs. What a messed up death spiral the middle class is on.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jun 16, 16 @ 11:26 am
As a landlord who does not try to gauge tenants and basically breaks even with my income vs. expenses, it would help renters if my property taxes weren’t jacked up. Also, a large part of my garbage disposal bill is taxes. Additionally, the water and sewer bill doesn’t help. You want affordable housing give owners some relief.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jun 16, 16 @ 11:28 am
Take away their service increase & Cola’s for four years that’ll help the situation.. Oh and wait, state employees don’t pay taxes..

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jun 16, 16 @ 11:29 am
Pick. Names. Please.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jun 16, 16 @ 11:30 am
This has become a particularly tough situation for seniors. Their property taxes are higher than their costs when they had a mortgage. If they rent, they literally can die worrying about running out of money.

Comment by A guy Thursday, Jun 16, 16 @ 11:42 am
I have a hunch a fair portion of the suburban issue is keeping up with the Jones.

Downstate, landlords often have a hard time charging enough rent to keep a place decent, particularly with the overall decline in the quality of tenants over the years.

As for water/sewer bills. Every tightened regulation means more improvements to treatment processes. Aging infrastructure is reaching its end life, and capital costs are no longer just expansion, it is expansion and replacement and most seem to have a hard time understanding there are costs associated with all of that.

Comment by Shemp Thursday, Jun 16, 16 @ 11:42 am
I would love to see the actual numbers behind these statistics, I have a feeling this is exaggerated. Chicago is pretty cheap for a large city. Imagine how bad it is in LA, NYC, DC, SF and Boston.

Comment by Ron Thursday, Jun 16, 16 @ 11:50 am
“Less safe areas” What does that mean, exactly. Code for something? Chicago is after all one of the country’s most segregated housing market.

There shouldn’t be any “less safe” areas. That’s what we pay law enforcement for. But if your view of adequate housing is a trendy condo in Bucktown or the Near North side (or metro Portland or San Francisco), maybe you’re going to have to broaden your criteria.

On a personal note, for decades I have lived in a diverse suburb within walking distance of Chicago’s Austin,which I guess is one of those “less safe” areas they’re talking about.

I’m still here. And there is plenty of reasonably priced housing in Austin.

Comment by Cassandra Thursday, Jun 16, 16 @ 11:56 am
==Every tightened regulation means more improvements to treatment processes.==

It can also mean less chances of Fecal Coliform in drinking water and a cleaner river. Kind of a trade off there…

I remember a T-Shirt I saw years ago. “Visiting Peoria, IL isn’t the worst thing you can do. The worst would be falling into the Illinois River and opening your mouth to yell for help.”

Comment by HangingOn Thursday, Jun 16, 16 @ 12:06 pm
- You want affordable housing give owners some relief. -

As another landlord who is fair with rent, I can’t believe you’re whining when you apparently have the means to own property beyond your own home. Shameless and pathetic.

Comment by Daniel Plainview Thursday, Jun 16, 16 @ 12:09 pm
=This has become a particularly tough situation for seniors. Their property taxes are higher than their costs when they had a mortgage.=
This begs the question, how many seniors have property freezes beside Sangamon County?

Comment by Qui Tam Thursday, Jun 16, 16 @ 12:15 pm
And the two-party system ridiculed the guy who you borrowed the edited quote from….
Being honest and correct doesn’t get you far with the Repubs or Dems.

Comment by Qui Tam Thursday, Jun 16, 16 @ 12:17 pm
Younger people seem to be less willing to explore a neighborhood that is bordering on trendy and will pay the extra costs to live in Lincoln Park or Bucktown.

I’m not sure that it is all rent but combine rent/mortgage that with costs for cable, eating out, and cell phones; and you increase your potential for living above your means.

The City isn’t doing anyone any favors with the trash fees, SSA’s, and escalating property taxes.

Comment by Belle Thursday, Jun 16, 16 @ 12:27 pm
“And the two-party system ridiculed the guy who you borrowed the edited quote from…”

His candidate for president seems to be doing okay: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/rent-damn-high-founder-endorses-trump-president-article-1.2514218

– MrJM

Comment by @MisterJayEm Thursday, Jun 16, 16 @ 12:45 pm
== This begs the question, how many seniors have property freezes beside Sangamon County? ==

Only poorer seniors qualify for the property tax freeze. Yes, there is a senior exemption that is not means tested. But if you a halfway well off senior, you don’t qualify for the freeze.

Comment by RNUG Thursday, Jun 16, 16 @ 12:46 pm
Cassandra “On a personal note, for decades I have lived in a diverse suburb within walking distance of Chicago’s Austin” would that be Oak Park? I don’t think that is the kind of unsafety people had in mind.

Comment by NoGifts Thursday, Jun 16, 16 @ 2:12 pm
Less safe areas. Law enforcement handles problems after they occur perhaps mom & dad could prevent problems from occurring with a little parenting.

Comment by Anon for now Thursday, Jun 16, 16 @ 2:23 pm
==with a little parenting==

Or they could work and pay that high rent. I remember when I was young and families could live off 1 income. Nowadays it’s harder to do, and you don’t get to spend time with your children like people used to. During the school year I get all of 3 and 1/2 hours a day after I get home to spend with my child before she goes to bed, and since she’s special needs a majority of the time that isn’t eating or bathing is trying to get her homework finished. Not exactly quality time.

Comment by HangingOn Thursday, Jun 16, 16 @ 3:00 pm
Silicon valley and the San Fransisco area has lots more high paying jobs, yet housing for those workers is not affordable. People earning $100k are living in shared apartments or as roommates in decrepit houses.

It seems the higher the incomes, the higher the rents and the cost of a residence.

Comment by peanut Thursday, Jun 16, 16 @ 3:06 pm
Zoning laws. Tiny houses, tiny houses on wheels, mobile homes, garage conversions, shed conversions, and even places to park a van down by the river. Allow front yard gardens, heck, encourage them.

Need to rethink utility taxes and delivery costs, also. They hit the poor the hardest. It my area, I’m paying $44 per month in taxes and delivery charges for electric and gas before I even use any.

If you want to reduce housing costs for the poor I think the best idea is to find ways to get government out of the way, before throwing more money around at current programs that are not effective.

Comment by Jeff Trigg Thursday, Jun 16, 16 @ 3:17 pm
Why are all the new apartments luxury style with granite and stainless steel? Why can’t some of the new TIF financed construction be for more moderate lifestyles? It seems the new construction is either low income or luxury. If we want to have a middle class, we have to accommodate them.

Comment by Monarch Thursday, Jun 16, 16 @ 3:37 pm
== Silicon valley and the San Fransisco area has lots more high paying jobs, yet housing for those workers is not affordable. ==

Yep. When I was being recruited by Silicon Valley, they told me to name a salary. Instead of an amount, I told them I wanted enough money to afford to buy an x square foot house within a 1/2 hour commute and 5 minutes to a lake or other water where I could fish (the equal of what I had at the time). That request took them back a bit because no one had ever phrased it quite that way before. They couldn’t match the 1/2 hour commute; it was more like an hour.

Comment by RNUG Thursday, Jun 16, 16 @ 4:26 pm
==I think the best idea is to find ways to get government out of the way==

And I’m sure you’ll pass on all those “savings” you get from getting government out of the way right? That rent will be lowered right away I’m sure.

I’ll agree to support your efforts if you agree to offset rent dollar for dollar with the savings generated.

Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Jun 16, 16 @ 4:51 pm
=most acute among people ages 18 to 34, African-Americans and households with incomes under $40,000=

Half of Chicago’s minority men between the ages of 20 and 24 are not working or in school. The unemployment rate for minority teens is 90%.

Chicago needs better paying jobs and more afforable housing, but most housing will never be =affordable= for young people without a job or education.

Comment by Formerly Known As... Thursday, Jun 16, 16 @ 5:21 pm
NoGifts-

And the question is, why. I am constantly astonished at the difference in housing prices across Austin boulevard, which show up when I get a Zillow e-mail about my OP neighborhood.

I think we have to look at Chicago governance here. For decades they have not invested nearly enough on the West side, thereby effectively reducing the available housing for citizens trying to keep their budgets under control.

Comment by Cassandra Thursday, Jun 16, 16 @ 5:24 pm