Rental Crisis Hits Kansas City
Workers Struggle to Afford Housing as Rents Soar
A worker in Kansas City needs to earn $24.19 an hour to afford a two-bedroom apartment which is challenging for those earning the minimum wage. For example, a Kansas worker earning $7.25 an hour would need to work 112 hours a week to afford an apartment while a Missouri worker earning $12.30 an hour would need to work 68 hours a week.
Rents in the Kansas City area are rising rapidly with Kansas and Missouri experiencing some of the highest increases. Between March 2023 and March 2024 and median rents in Kansas rose by 9.8% and in Missouri by 9.7%, according to the report of The Kansas City Star.
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(photo: KCUR)
Missouri Takes Steps to Address Affordable Housing Crisis – Gradual Minimum Wage Increase and Paid Sick Leave Proposed
A worker in Kansas City needs to earn $24.19 an hour to afford a two-bedroom apartment, which is challenging for those earning the minimum wage. For example, a Kansas worker earning $7.25 an hour would need to work 112 hours a week to afford an apartment while a Missouri worker earning $12.30 an hour would need to work 68 hours a week.
Missouri is trying to address the issue by gradually raising its minimum wage to match the cost of living. In January, the minimum wage increased by 30 cents an hour and this November, voters may approve raising it to $15 by 2026 and providing paid sick leave.
