Housing trends: Minnesota worst in Midwest for affordable rents

By John Michaelson

Minnesota News Connection

Click here for the housing trend series

ST. PAUL — The rising cost of rent and low vacancy rates are putting the squeeze on Minnesotans who are already struggling to make ends meet. According to Leigh Rosenberg, research and outreach manager for the Minnesota Housing Partnership, in order to afford a modest two-bedroom apartment in the state, a person making minimum wage would have to work 86 hours a week.

“We found that Minnesota actually had the worst affordability of any state in the Midwest,” Rosenberg said. “And that’s due to a combination of high housing costs here, as well as a minimum wage which is the federal minimum wage. Some states have a higher minimum wage.”

Rosenberg says 54 percent of Minnesota renters do not currently earn enough to afford a two-bedroom unit at the “fair market rent” where they live. She adds while rents are most expensive in the metro Twin Cities, the four counties that have the highest percentage of people unable to afford a modest two-bedroom apartment are in greater Minnesota.

“Because what we’re finding in many, many rural areas in Minnesota is that the supply of rental housing is simply inadequate, and so, the rents become very high in comparison to what people earn.”

The Anoka County Community Action Program is among those agencies that work to help people who have trouble finding affordable housing. Executive Director Patrick McFarland says they assist some 1,500 families a year with foreclosure prevention, and rent out about 400 affordable housing units. Still, he says, many more need help – and that often leads to shared households.

“I think we’re seeing the same kind of thing that most CAP agencies are seeing, which is that people are doubling up. People are moving back home with their parents. They can’t afford the rent, and so you get these large extended families living in one, single-family dwelling.”

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2010, 30 percent of all adults lived in a shared household.

See the state’s latest housing affordability trends by region at mhponline.org.

SportsPlus

Mower County

Tom Robbins to be new executive director of Austin Area Arts

Mower County

Institute scientist and team’s database work featured in science communication publication

Business

Hy-Vee celebrates 25 Years of its Veterans Day Breakfast

Mower County

I-90 Austin detour planned Nov. 15-18 for Fourth Street bridge demolition

Business

Hormel named a Best for Vets Employer for 12th year in a row

Mower County

Technical issue from Tuesday night’s election results in slight ballot count changes

News

2024 Election Rundown

Mower County

Patricia Mueller retains District 23B seat

Mower County

Zielke wins special election to round out Green’s school board seat

Mower County

Incumbents hold seats for Mayor, City Council; Waller returns to council in Ward 2

Mower County

Glynn earns fourth term on County Board, Mueller a second term

News

Trump wins the White House in political comeback rooted in appeals to frustrated voters

Mower County

Technical issues causing delay in upload of Mower voter tallies

News

Democrat Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota wins 4th Senate term, defeating GOP ex-NBA player Royce White

News

AP Race Call: Republican Brad Finstad wins reelection to U.S. House in Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District

Mower County

Author to present winter legends and history at Austin Public Library

News

About 24 states say they’ll send National Guard troops to DC for vote certification and inauguration

News

An Israeli strike kills 20 in north Gaza, where Palestinians say they’ve had little food for weeks

News

Election Day voting unfolds generally smoothly with some scattered issues and delays reported

Mower County

City honors Legion, VFW Color Guard

Mower County

In Your Community: First three prizes claimed from Holiday Bing-Oh!

News

New North Shore livestream offers moment of Zen amid info overload

News

Public input sought on major powerline proposed for southwest Minnesota

News

Minneapolis musician Tyka Nelson, Prince’s sister and only full sibling, dies at 64