The Problem

The Effects of Housing Insecurity on Children

Over 1,000 children are identified as housing insecure in Sarasota County each year. 1 in every 18 students in Sarasota County has experienced housing insecurities. About 50% of those students are in South Sarasota County — Venice, Englewood, North Port, Nokomis, Osprey. Venice High School had the highest per capita population of students in a housing crisis in 2017. In 2018 and 2019, that has shifted to North Port High School.

The Effects of Housing Insecurity on Children

Children who experience housing insecurity engage in health risk behaviors at significantly higher rates than their housed peers due to exposure to Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), detrimental to their development.

Youth experiencing housing insecurities are:

  • 9 times more likely to repeat a grade

  • 4 times more likely to not graduate

  • 5 times more likely to be victims of sexual and physical dating violence

  • 6 times more likely to abuse drugs

  • 4 times more likely to misuse prescription pain medication

  • 7 times more likely to attempt suicide

The Gap in Housing Costs for Children and Families

There is a significant gap between renters’ wages and the cost of rental housing across the country. The estimated hourly wage needed for a 2 bedroom rental in Florida is $26.38/hour. The Florida minimum wage is $12.00/hour.

Many Families Do Not Qualify For the Help They Need

The national definition of housing insecurity includes sleeping the previous night in a place lacking water or electricity. A parent does everything in their power to prevent this from happening for their children, including paying for a hotel with their paycheck or staying with friends and relatives.

As a consequence, these families are not considered as housing insecure and do not qualify for federal and state funds and assistance.

Affordable housing that working families can afford cannot be found in most areas, especially in Sarasota County.

Imagine this Scenario

There’s a single mom who makes $25 an hour. She has two small children and needs a 2-bedroom house. 

At $25 an hour her salary is $52,000 a year (which is more than many of our first responders take home).  The average rent for a 2-bedroom house is $2,322.  What she can afford is $1,444.  This means that she is spending over 50% of her Gross Income on her housing.  Her taxes take another 23% of her income which means she is left with only 27% of her income or $1,170.  Between her childcare costs ($400/month), car payment ($300/month), car insurance ($80/month), utilities ($150/month), phone ($40/month), and food ($300/month), she had to get a second job to cover all the costs.

We need housing at each of the levels for the local incomes so that we can keep all of our workforce and not lose them to more affordable areas.

Average Rent for Local Housing

Studio (no bedrooms) = $1,075/month
1-bedroom $1,902/month
2-bedroom $2,322/month
3-bedroom $2,287/month
4-bedroom $3,047/month

Even at $35 an hour, a couple combined or a single mom or dad cannot afford a 2, 3, or 4-bedroom house. 

Incomes and Affordable Rent

$10 an hour = $20,800 annually = $577 affordable
$15 an hour = $31,200 annually = $866 affordable
$20 an hour = $41,600 annually = $1,155 affordable
$25 an hour = $52,000 annually = $1,444 affordable
$30 an hour = $62,400 annually = $1,733 affordable
$35 an hour = $72,800 annually = $2,022 affordable