Last year the National Housing Conference published "Paycheck to Paycheck: Working Families and the Cost of Housing in America," which studied the availability of decent, affordable housing for workers in five "vital occupations" in 60 of the nation's largest housing markets. Noting that administrative support and clerical occupations and service jobs account for about one-third of the nation's workforce, the analysis looked at workers in these occupations: janitors, elementary school teachers, police officers, licensed practical nurses, and retail salespersons.

The report found that janitors could rent a one-bedroom apartment for no more than 30 percent of their income in only 6 of the 60 metropolitan areas, and salespersons could afford a one-bedroom on the same income standard in just 3 of the areas.

The report also looked at homeownership and determined that households dependent on one elementary school teacher's or one police officer's salary alone cannot afford to buy a median priced home in two-thirds of the metropolitan areas.

"Licensed Practical Nurses are priced out of all but the lowest cost-to-income markets," the report continued, "while Janitors and Retail Salespersons cannot afford to purchase a home across the board."

Now add to that $20,000 to $40,000 of school loans and you have the end of the american dream. Which is my family's situation. Of coarse as a society we can keep dumping our kids off on other people so that both parents can work full time.

Here is a link to the entire story. This is another story sent to me by Reuben Rajala.