Quick Facts about Homelessness
- Families make up 48% of homeless people.
- 27% of homeless people are employed in full or part-time jobs.
- Approximately 50% of shelter request by homeless families go unmet each year.
- An estimated 22% of people who are homeless suffer from mental illness.
Fair Market Rent
Fair Market Rent is the cost of a modest rental unit.
In Washington State, the Fair Market Rent for a two bedroom unit is currently $728 per month. In the Seattle-Bellevue-Everett area it is $840 per month.
An extremely low income household (earning 30% of the Area Median Income of $60,200) can afford monthly rent of no more than $547.*
An SSI (Social Security Insurance) recipient (receiving $579 monthly) can afford monthly rent of no more than $174, while the Fair Market Rent for a one bedroom unit is $688.
In Washington, a worker earning minimum wage of $7.63 per hour must work 83 hours per week in order to afford a two bedroom unit at the state’s Fair Market Rent.
In Washington, 44% of renter households pay more than 30% of their income for rent.
The Housing Wage
The housing wage in Washington State is $14.02 per hour.
This is the amount a worker would have to earn per hour to be able to work 40 hours per week and afford* a two bedroom unit at the state’s Fair Market Rent ($728). This is 208% of the present minimum wage ($7.63 per hour).
The housing wage in the Seattle-Bellevue-Everett metropolitan area is $16.25. This is 316% of the current minimum wage. A worker earning minimum wage would need to work 126 hours per week to afford a two bedroom unit at the area's Fair Market Rent ($845).