Access to low income housing is a huge issue in Ann Arbor, and according to staff at SOS Community Servicesis one of the main causes of homelessness in Washtenaw County.

To give you an idea of the cost of apartments in Ann Arbor, here are some stats from The National Low Income Housing Coalition's Out of Reach Report:

Annual Income needed to afford a 2 bedroom Fair Market Rate (FMR) apartment in Ann Arbor: $36,520. For the rest of Michigan: $28,961

Hourly Wage needed to afford a 2 bedroom (FMR) apartment in Ann Arbor (assuming you work 40hrs/wk): $17.56. The rest of MI: $13.92

With the signing of the new bill the Minimum Wage in MI is going to be increased to $7.40 by 2007. $7.40+$7.40=$14.80

This would still not be enough for a low income individual to afford a FMR apartment in Ann Arbor. And this doesn't even begin to cover buying a house! --Nancy Shore, SOS Community Relations Coordinator