Dakota Woodlands has been in Eagan for fifteen years now. Unfortunately, the problem of homelessness is far worse than it was fifteen years ago.
Since 1991, Wilder Research has conducted a triennial statewide homelessness study to better understand the causes, circumstances and effects of homelessness, and to promote efforts toward permanent, affordable housing for all Minnesotans. On October 22, 2009, 9,452 homeless adults, youth, and children were counted in shelters, transitional housing, and on the streets. This compares to 7,751 counted in 2006. (Wilder Homeless Study).
The connection between homelessness and affordable housing
Homelessness begins as a housing issue, but it is so much more. The issues of homelessness and affordable housing are interconnected. The gap between what families can afford to pay for housing and the cost of housing is a major reason for homelessness. Housing is considered affordable if it constitutes 30 percent or less of a household’s gross income, however, many families spend much more than a third of their income on housing. When people spend more, they do not have enough income to meet basic family budget needs such as food, clothing, transportation, childcare and health-related expenses, or to weather any setbacks or unplanned financial issues.
Housing statistics in Dakota County
While many apartments are available, they aren’t affordable. The Dakota County Community Development Agency (CDA) completes an annual Market Survey. It surveyed 20,000 units in 2009 and found: an average one-bedroom rent was $761 per month, a two-bedroom $928 and a three-bedroom $1,234. CDA Executive Director, Mark Ulfers, said in the report, “Housing affordability continues to be a major problem for low- and moderate-income families as it currently takes an annual income of over $49,000 to afford to rent an average three-bedroom unit in the county.”
The need for affordable housing is greater than ever. According to the Sept. 2009 Metropolitan Council’s MetroStats report, Dakota County population growth demands will need 7,950 new affordable housing units between 2011 and 2020.
At the 30 percent affordability level, it takes an annual income of approximately $36,000 to afford an average two-bedroom unit in Dakota County. This is a full time, hourly rate of $17.30, a significantly higher wage than many Dakota County residents and workers earn. A minimum wage earner would need to work more than 115 hours a week to afford Dakota County’s fair market rent for a two-bedroom apartment ($928).
Housing is only one factor in the homeless problem
Poor adults already living on the edge can be catapulted into homelessness by what otherwise might be considered a minor event, such as a child’s illness, loss of transportation to work, or a rental increase, because they don’t have a safety net. Small problems become huge catastrophes.
The causes of homelessness include more than the inability to find housing that is affordable. We think of homelessness as a math problem: balancing income and expenses. Besides housing, the other income related considerations include the economy, wages, job loss, lack of job skills and the adult’s education. Plus, homelessness can be a vicious circle. Without a phone number, permanent address, or place to get showered and changed, it can be very hard for someone who is homeless to find or maintain a job. On the expense side of the budget are concerns including child care, transportation barriers and illness.
To learn more about homelessness in our community,
we recommend the following web sites:
Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless: http://www.mnhomelesscoalition.org
For more research on homeless adults and youth in Minnesota: http://www.wilder.org/download.0.html?report=2339
2003 Wilder Research Report
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