Affordable living is beyond reach for many families

Rental-housing costs continue to be challenging for low-income families as they struggle to achieve affordable living. The families in our program remind us that resilience grows in community. Awareness and connection are the first steps toward financial stability. FamilyForward is here to help.

In July of 2025, the National Low Income Housing Coalition released its annual Out of Reach report. This report, which examines the affordability of rental housing throughout the United States, found that in Cook County, Ill., rental-housing costs continue to be challenging for low-income families. The hourly wage required to afford a two-bedroom rental — without paying more than 30% of their income on housing — is $33.87 in Cook County (Chicago-Joliet-Naperville areas). This measure assumes that the rental is listed at fair market rate (FMR), which is $1,761 per month, as established by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. In our experience, families are paying above the FMR or not earning enough to meet their housing costs.

As of August 2025, families enrolled in FamilyForward’s two-year program earn an average hourly wage of $23, and face housing costs as high as $2,300 per month. One working adult in our program would need to work 1.5 full-time jobs simply to pay rent at the current FMR. Factoring in other costs, the hourly pay single parents need to sufficiently provide for their families only increases. For example, according to the Economic Policy Institute’s Family Budget Calculator, a single parent with two children in Cook County would ideally earn $45 per hour to attain a modest standard of living.

The families in our program remind us that resilience grows in community. Often, what makes the difference is a timely conversation or a helping hand before things fall apart. If you know a family struggling to keep up, encourage them to reach out — to FamilyForward, to a resource, to someone who can help. Awareness and connection are the first steps toward financial stability. FamilyForward is here to help.