This is insane, I live in Northern California and the rent here has gone through the roof. I was talking to my sister in-law regarding our apartment raising rent and she said her complex she works for will be decreasing rent because they can't find anyone who qualifies. A studio apartment in her complex goes for $1500/mo and you have to make 3x after taxes that in order to qualify. That's $4500 a month, which in my mind is a lot of money. Somebody who makes a little less than that can't even get their foot into the door of a studio apartment.
Seriously, think about how fucked that is. Most people will go to the typical “then just buy a home” argument, well there's people who prefer to rent or can't get a high enough loan to buy a home that doesn't need $25k-50k worth of work put into it that they can't afford. Boomers can't tell us shit anymore.
It's hard to get a good paying job here, especially with everyone moving in from other areas where rent and homes are much much more expensive. This area isn't even nice and still they are gouging for rent. I was in line to get a home loan when covid happened, I lost my job and couldn't find emoyment for 3 months. Now it all feels futile, houses in my area shot way up and aren't even going for less then $400k unless they need a shit ton of work and I can't even get approved for a loan for that amount.
Soon I won't even be able to afford rent let alone just gas to get to my job.
Fuck a $15 minimum wage we need a $20-$25 minimum wage at this point. We just cannot keep up in California as everything continues to grow, I will be leaving this state soon but I'm scared no matter where I move the millionares will once again chase me out until there's nowhere else to go.
I just want to work and be able to afford to live.