Figure 14, below, is drawn from the
National Low Income Housing Coalition’s
2016 Out of Reach report, which compares
the gap between wages and rent for
various income groups in Marion County,
including extremely low-income
households (<30 percent area median
income), a minimum wage earner (23
percent area median income), and a social
security insurance recipient with no other
source of income. The gap between what
families in these situations earn and fair
market rents, almost assures that a
number of these families will experience a
housing cost-burden. According to the
report, a Marion County minimum wage
earner would need to work 86 hours per
week to afford a two-bedroom apartment
at fair market rent.
The places accessible to low-income and very-low-income
families throughout the county are limited.
Comparing the affordability gap at various
income levels with the map of median
gross rent and the map of the percent of
total units that are affordable (see Figures
15 and 16, next page), it is readily evident
that the places accessible to low-income
and very low-income families throughout
the county are limited. Some families are
indeed able to find quality, affordable
housing in these locations. Others may be
able to qualify and secure subsidized
housing or otherwise access higher cost
housing through HUD-provided tenantbased rental assistance. Overall, however,
there are not enough of these units or
programs to serve everyone’s needs, and
the alternative for many families is to incur
a cost-burden in their housing tenure.
Figure 14. Gap between Fair Market Rent and Selected Income Levels (Marion County)
$117
$309
$432
$589
$809
$692
$500
$377
$220
Fair Market Rent
Mean Renting
Wage
Gap
Extremely Low
Minimum Wage
Income (<30% AMI)
Earner
SSI Recipient
Total
Source: National Low Income Housing Coalition: Out of Reach Report (2016)
23