Out Of Reach

The most common family dynamic we see in the Family Promise Network is one of a single mother with young children. So when the 2018 census showed that 34% of families served by the Network this past year were led by dual parents, we considered this to be significant. Perhaps we shouldn’t have been surprised considering the fair market rent for a two-bedroom apartment in Bergen County is just shy of $1,700 per month and requires an hourly full-time wage of $32.52 an hour. An apartment is considered to be affordable if one pays 30% or less of their income for rent and utilities. The sad fact is that 11 million Americans pay 50% or more of their income on rent, which leaves little left for life’s necessities. This is why Family Promise focuses on job training and other services aimed at helping families increase their incomes.