The gap between housing affordability and living wages continues to grow

Last September, we shared with you a snapshot of the gap between housing affordability and living wages in Cook County, Ill. One year later, families in our communities — our neighbors — continue to face steep housing costs without earning a living wage.

In the July 2026 release of the National Low Income Housing Coalition’s Out of Reach report, the hourly wage required to afford a two-bedroom rental — without paying more than 30% of their income on housing — is $34.25 in Cook County. This measure assumes that the rental is listed at fair market rate (FMR), established by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, which is $1,781 per month. When we look specifically at the Illinois 5th Congressional District, where most FamilyForward families reside, two-bedroom rentals average $2,336 per month. The hourly wage required to afford a two-bedroom rental in the district is $44.92. Working families enrolled in our program and many others are earning well below what’s needed to maintain stable housing.

Currently, families enrolled in FamilyForward’s two-year program earn an average hourly wage of $21.38. One working adult in our program would need to work two full-time jobs simply to pay rent at the current FMR in the district. When other costs are factored in — such as food, childcare, transportation, and healthcare — the necessary living wage 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 $48 per hour to attain a modest standard of living.  

If you know a family struggling to keep up, encourage them to reach out — to FamilyForward, to a resource (try these for starters), to someone who can help.

To learn more about the data shared, visit www.nlihc.org and www.epi.org.