the Voice of
The Communist League of Revolutionary Workers–Internationalist
“The emancipation of the working class will only be achieved by the working class itself.”
— Karl Marx
the Voice of
The Communist League of Revolutionary Workers–Internationalist
“The emancipation of the working class will only be achieved by the working class itself.”
— Karl Marx
Aug 19, 2024
Rents rose by almost a third in four years across the U.S., forcing more and more workers to live on the street or in their car because they can no longer afford housing, according to a recent article in the Washington Post. Hardly anywhere in the country can a full-time minimum-wage worker afford a one-bedroom apartment. One in four renters spends half or more of their income on rent and utilities. Federal data shows the number of people without a home rose 12% last year.
A hotel and casino worker in Biloxi shares a hotel room with two disabled relatives. She says, “The cost of living is high, and $15 an hour barely covers rent and utilities.” An Amazon worker near Nashville earns $21 an hour and works 50 hours a week but can’t keep up with expenses. Living with his mother in their car, he spends a lot on water jugs, prepared food, and gas for air conditioning. It takes a huge effort to keep homelessness a secret from others, especially employers, for example by showering in gyms.
Capitalism is taking us from the “working poor” to the “working homeless”….