U.S. Teachers Struggle with a Mounting Housing Crisis and Poverty Wages

Teacher unions and school districts in the US are increasingly negotiating for better housing assistance for teachers in order to attract and retain them, as teachers struggle to afford the cost of living in many cities across the country. In California, for example, teachers make nearly 18% less than comparable college graduates on a weekly basis, and housing affordability is often the biggest challenge. Some school districts have built teacher-only housing developments, while others have called on parents to offer rooms for rent to teachers. Critics argue that while these measures can help in the short term, they are not long-term solutions to the problem.

Our teachers should not have to choose between paying rent or putting food on the table. Teaching is a full time job that deserves a living wage, not a poverty wage. When teachers are paid poverty wages, they are more likely to experience stress, burnout, and even leave the profession altogether. We must recognize the vital role that teachers play in our communities and provide them with fair compensation. By doing so, we not only support our teachers but also ensure that they can continue to provide quality education to our children. Fair compensation is not just a matter of justice but also of common sense.

Gina Gray, an English teacher at Middle College high school in Los Angeles, leaves her place extra early to drop her daughter off at a daycare center before she begins her long commute to work. Photograph Courtesy of Mark Abramson/The Guardian

US teachers grapple with a growing housing crisis: ‘We can’t afford rent’

By Edwin Rios, The Guardian | 03/02/2023