Given that the bulk of most people's pay, at least in the USA, goes to paying rent, and that rents have skyrocketed well beyond the rate of inflation I can't help put to think they are the real problem here.
Sure, companies can pay more to compensate, but why should they? Why can't the solution to the problem be to reduce rents or home costs?
We know for a fact they are overvalued and property owners are profiteering, just like the oil companies are doing right now.
I know rent controls are a hotly debated topic, there are pros and cons of it.
But we all know that companies raising wages is only going to result in higher rents, since property owners seem to have the feeling they are entitled to our money.