Almost half of US families can't afford basics like rent and food

[Dr. Who]

The economy may be chugging along, but many Americans are still struggling to afford a basic middle classlife.
by Tami Luhby @Luhby May 18, 2018 - CNN

Nearly 51 million households don't earn enough to afford a monthly budget that includes housing, food, child care, health care, transportation and a cell phone, according to a study released Thursday by the United Way ALICE Project. That's 43% of households in the United States.

The figure includes the 16.1 million households living in poverty, as well as the 34.7 million families that the United Way has dubbed ALICE -- Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. This group makes less than what's needed "to survive in the modern economy."


"Despite seemingly positive economic signs, the ALICE data shows that financial hardship is still a pervasive problem," said Stephanie Hoopes, the project's director.

California, New Mexico and Hawaii have the largest share of struggling families, at 49% each. North Dakota has the lowest at 32%.


Many of these folks are the nation's child care workers, home health aides, office assistants and store clerks, who work low-paying jobs and have little savings, the study noted. Some 66% of jobs in the US pay less than $20 an hour.


The study also drilled down to the county level.


For instance, in Seattle's King County, the annual household survival budget for a family of four (including one infant and one preschooler) in 2016 was nearly $85,000. This would require an hourly wage of $42.46. But in Washington State, only 14% of jobs pay more than $40 an hour.
http://money.cnn.com/2018/05/17/news...udy/index.html

These are the people who are unlikely to have anything to live on other than SS when they retire, if they can ever afford to retire.

[Mister D]

Now what effect does immigration have on that? Rhetorical question.

[Dr. Who]

Now what effect does immigration have on that? Rhetorical question.

Is immigration a big issue in Hawaii? How about Washington state? I doubt that Hawaii has many undocumented migrants and Washington's illegals tend to currently be Asians who overstay their visas. What do Hawaii, Washington and California have in common? High costs of living.

[Mister D]

Is immigration a big issue in Hawaii? How about Washington state? I doubt that Hawaii has many undocumented migrants and Washington's illegals tend to currently be Asians who overstay their visas. What do Hawaii, Washington and California have in common? High costs of living.

.

The natives of Hawaii tend to be poor. California has a huge Hispanic population and lots of poverty. Ditto New Mexico. You are trying too hard to avoid the obvious conclusion: poor migrants = more poverty. A lot more.

Dr, Who, you are posting in bad faith. You aren't this stupid.

[Mister D]

Now how does Dr. Who reconcile her views on immigration with this OP? She doesn't. She pretends there is no connection.

[Mini Me]

Now how does Dr. Who reconcile her views on immigration with this OP? She doesn't. She pretends there is no connection.

Such a wanton, needless attack on Who. You even changed the narrative!

[donttread]

The economy may be chugging along, but many Americans are still struggling to afford a basic middle classlife.
by Tami Luhby @Luhby May 18, 2018 - CNN

Nearly 51 million households don't earn enough to afford a monthly budget that includes housing, food, child care, health care, transportation and a cell phone, according to a study released Thursday by the United Way ALICE Project. That's 43% of households in the United States.

The figure includes the 16.1 million households living in poverty, as well as the 34.7 million families that the United Way has dubbed ALICE -- Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. This group makes less than what's needed "to survive in the modern economy."


"Despite seemingly positive economic signs, the ALICE data shows that financial hardship is still a pervasive problem," said Stephanie Hoopes, the project's director.

California, New Mexico and Hawaii have the largest share of struggling families, at 49% each. North Dakota has the lowest at 32%.


Many of these folks are the nation's child care workers, home health aides, office assistants and store clerks, who work low-paying jobs and have little savings, the study noted. Some 66% of jobs in the US pay less than $20 an hour.


The study also drilled down to the county level.


For instance, in Seattle's King County, the annual household survival budget for a family of four (including one infant and one preschooler) in 2016 was nearly $85,000. This would require an hourly wage of $42.46. But in Washington State, only 14% of jobs pay more than $40 an hour.
http://money.cnn.com/2018/05/17/news...udy/index.html

These are the people who are unlikely to have anything to live on other than SS when they retire, if they can ever afford to retire.

Housing is a huge issue. In any other industry it would be called "rampant inflation that we must address"

[Peter1469]

Housing is a huge issue. In any other industry it would be called "rampant inflation that we must address"

At least around here, new houses are big- and expensive. Then there are town houses and condos. Not so much new "starter" homes. I have said here before that my condo cost $300K. I could not afford a house without having to suffer a long commute.

[Dr. Who]

.

The natives of Hawaii tend to be poor. California has a huge Hispanic population and lots of poverty. Ditto New Mexico. You are trying too hard to avoid the obvious conclusion: poor migrants = more poverty. A lot more.

Dr, Who, you are posting in bad faith. You aren't this stupid.

I'm posting in bad faith? That's rich.

[Dr. Who]

Now how does Dr. Who reconcile her views on immigration with this OP? She doesn't. She pretends there is no connection.

You introduced the connection - it's up to you to substantiate it. It wasn't part of the OP or my job to defend an ambiguous allegation.