Just One Away...

Just to put things in perspective:

In the state of Ohio on any given night, more than 12,000 people are homeless with more than 1,500 of those persons going unsheltered.

Source: COHHIO’s 2009 Ohio Homelessness Report

In Ohio, the Fair Market Rent (FMR) for a two-bedroom apartment is $683. To afford this level of rent and utilities––without paying more than 30% of income on housing––a household must earn $27,326 annually, or $13.14 per hour (assuming a 40-hour work week, 52 weeks per year.) Ohio minimum wage is $7.30. To afford FMR for a two-bedroom apartment, a minimum wage earner must work 72 hours per week, 52 weeks per year.

Source: National Low Income Housing Coalition’s Out of Reach 2009 Report

If these figures are accurate, then there are many people in Ohio – and in the Mahoning Valley – who are but one paycheck away from being homeless.