Employed, but Living in a Shelter

This sounds very simplistic and I might get a nipple torn off, but if you can’t afford to live somewhere why would you?

People are crazy to have to put up with that. Re-locate. It might be hard, but, this is not worth it.

NYC ain't all it's cracked up to be.

[quote]if you can’t afford to live somewhere why would you?

Because that's where the work is.

But if you can't afford to live there on the wages they pay you, that kinda defeats the purpose, right?

Even Queens is expensive now.

The answer used to be “well then move out to Jersey and commute in on NJ Transit or PATH.” But that is expensive… and NJ rents have shot up a lot in the past decade as well. And Brooklyn is even more insanely expensive compared to itself 10 years ago.

There are no easy answers for people working in Manhattan and making less than $75K and having no $$ support from family.

why should they move. If there family and history is in NYC. its appalling housing is not being built. Scott Galloway is on a jag about this lately. Says it really must be a major democratic platform - AFFORDABLE HOUSING on a massive scale.

True r7. Even Jersey City and Hoboken would be rough on less than six figures these days, it's that insane.

I get the allure of NYC but if your housing exceeds your pay it's impossible.

Sadly R8 it is not a winning issue among voters. It’s the ultimate drawbridge syndrome— most of those who have housing they can afford, DO NOT want to help others make it. Because it’s a case where a lack of affordable housing helps those in houses maintain their high property values.

Roommates

In the 1950s and 60s, major projects were built to be affordable housing. Crime became an issue but the city needs to revisit this. This should be a part of the Dem platform. I think it’s gotten so bad that even the NIMBY types see the need for more housing.

I know a few people who are in their 30s and still have roommates in Bushwick Brooklyn.

I guess they are saving money....they can't move when they save up enough

R9 it’s insane. Jersey City NJ…. average 2BR rental today is $3500! In Jersey City! If you want the lower-crime areas that’s more like $4K.

A friend of mine I've known since college is living with a roommate in Astoria, they're both in their forties. I would seriously be re-thinking my options if I were still living like that in my forties.

These homeless snobs can't live in a shithole tuna can in the Bronx?

maybe they should stop calling these "homeless" shelters and call them SROs and dorms and charge nominal fees and require the tenant to hold a job most of the year. And a grace period if he loses the job. And otherwise stay out their hair. It could be charity housing or socialised housing. Not "homeless housing". they aren't homeless- that is their home.

if the person can't hold a job and is destitute, they could go to a "homeless shelter". If they can hold a job, it's low income SRO. Give the people their own room. Give a small family 3 rooms. nominal rent.

in Switzerland rents are high but people who can't work for one reason or another end up on a kind of dole or welfare and get a liveable subsidised apartment. They can live there for decades. they aren't slums. It's cheaper for the cities to do this than to deal iwht homeless and OUTRAGEOUSLY expensive services to the homeless.

So what’s more unaffordable- NYC or LA?

At least LA has sunshine and nice weather year round, too.

I agree that is insane. Also 50,000 is the most I ever made in one year.

If they could work it out, 3-4 of them could live together in an apartment.

That said, a homeless shelter doesn’t cost anything so they save that money.

$50k doesn’t go very far in NYC

Moving to any place that’s cheaper would also lower their income. They would likely have to buy a car and start paying rent a utilities.

It’s ultimately not cheaper to move elsewhere

Some have been doing this since the 80s.

Poughkeepsie

R22, you need a car in LA, that’s why it loses.

R25 That's not true. They could easily afford an apartment in say, Chicago, on $50,000 a year. And their income would absolutely not be lower for the same job, nor would they need a car.

I don't feel bad for any idiot that chooses to live in a homeless shelter just so they can stay in NYC unless their career absolutely requires it. You can get a $50,000 job anywhere in the country.

[quote]Because that's where the work is

I'm sure there are some (museum work immediately comes to mind), but what jobs at that NYC specific but pay that low?