Results of a study led by 15 Now Oregon were released today, and they confirm that a statewide increase of the minimum wage to $15 per hour is the only adequate way to self-sufficiency. What that means is that the bill to increase the state’s minimum wage to $13 per hour, which was proposed by House Speaker Tina Kotek (D-Portland) last session, simply doesn’t cut it.
“Regardless of where you live in Oregon, the current minimum wage of $9.25 is grossly inadequate to support a family,” the study says. “The proposal to raise Oregon’s minimum wage to $15 gives all working Oregonians—both rural and urban—the opportunity to earn a wage that allows them to be self-sufficient.”
The study advocates for a living wage—an hourly wage high enough to allow a person to live without needing to rely on public assistance—for all Oregonians and cites data indicating that there is no urban-rural divide: It’s not just people living in cities that need $15 per hour.
READ MORE ABOUT THE STUDY AFTER THE JUMP
Here’s some math:
If a single mother makes $15 per hour and works 40 hours per week, her gross monthly income is $2,600. If that mom spends more than 30 percent of her income on housing, she’s considered “cost burdened” by rent. That means she and her family should pay $780 per month for a two-bedroom unit. I don’t know about the rest of the state, but as a single mom who just tried to find housing, I can say there’s no chance I’d find a habitable place at that price point.
But don’t take my word for it.
A recently-released report by Our Oregon and RAise the Wage concluded “that $13.50 per hour is enough to make a single parent self-sufficient in most of Oregon’s rural counties,” according to the 15 Now Oregon report. “15 Now Oregon agrees with the finding that there are rural counties where $13.50 might be enough. However, after running the numbers from the studies in the Our Oregon report, The 15 Now Oregon report found that the main conclusion of the report, $13.50 is not enough for most of Oregon.”
Here are some other facts included in the report:
• A single adult in Oregon needs to earn $15.96 per hour to be self-sufficient, according to the Alliance for a Just Society’s 2014 Job Gap report.
• A single mom in Oregon needs to earn at least $16.61 per hour in order to afford adequate housing, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition’s Out of Reach 2015 report.
• A single mom in Oregon needs to make an average of $15.57 per hour to be self-sufficient, and in at least half or Oregon’s 36 counties, single mom’s need at least $15 per hour to be self-sufficient, according to the University of Washington Center for Women’s Welfare.
• Of the nearly 740,000 working Oregonians who make less than $15 per hour, nearly 200,000 receive public assistance.
• A raise in wages to anything less than $15 per hour leaves workers with less money each month after losing their benefits, according to an analysis of the “benefits cliff” by Oregon’s non-partisan Legislative Revenue Office.
A study by a group named “We need $15” confirms that we need $15? I don’t disagree, but how is that supposed to be at all convincing?
For your consideration, I’d like to submit this report, titled “Reymont needs a raise.” I think the findings will surprise you!
A recent study led by “15 NOW”, huh …
Hey, speaking of recent studies, the American Enterprise Institute just released a report highlighting that the phase-in of a $15 minimum wage has caused Seattle restaurants to lose 1,000 jobs in one month, the worst decline since 2009.
https://www.aei.org/publication/minimum-wa…
Placing the financial burden of decades of horrible government monetary policy (the minimum wage in silver dollars back in the late 60’s is roughly equivalent to $20 dollars today) onto the private sector will never fix the problem. It sure does inflate the bribing and coercive power of the political class though.
Since you guy’s proudly display your favor of the wage hike by virtue of the coverage you give to it, I’m curious if you are still hiring interns? Also, I’m interested in what their hourly wage is, because it surely must be upwards of $18 an hour seeing as how $15 is the bare minimum.
“Regardless of where you live in Oregon, the current minimum wage of $9.25 is grossly inadequate to support a family.”
Which is why you should avoid starting a family when you’re only making minimum wage, especially as a single parent.
As for the obvious issue of whether or not such a study can be believed, I’ll defer to the previous commenters.
“[Y]ou should avoid starting a family when you’re only making minimum wage, especially as a single parent.”
WINNER: Outstanding Achievement in Commenting, 2015
Wow, I’m just glad to see other readers aware of the self-serving ‘need’ of this latest report.
I’m all for trying to rid the wage disparity here in the US too, which is obscene compared to other developed countries, but this particular way of addressing it strikes me as mostly a feel-good measure that will only cause a big bump in inflation.
There has to be a better way, with the future in mind.
Tax Structure may work… I dunno….
What do any of you suggest as an alternative to regain buying power for working people in this country, or our state more specifically? Instead of debating the moral, economic, or sociological persoecive of what raising the minimum wage means, you decide to make comments about the individuals who work low wage jobs.
Without adequate wage for a hard days labor, people can not move forward. “Work harder” many of you think, but should somebody have to work two or three jobs just to get by? Hell no! The minimum wage is supposed to be the minimum wage it takes to survive. That includes rent, food, gas and insurance, and other expenses. Look it up. For the guy who made the rude comment about single parents, we sobt always get to choose when to start families.
Perhaps you are concerned that you have worked so long and hard to get to $15… guess what?! You are worth more than that! We have been duped over the last four decades that the wages we recieve are equal to the work we produce. Working Americans deserve a raise! Raising the minimum wage will, if people stand together instead of bickering about other poor people, help raise the wage for many.
Seriously, if you are going to complain about people who work low wages, look at where your taxes go to. You spend way less to subsidize a persons wage through social programs thab you do subsidizing corporations. Wake up!
I still say that you can’t just raise the minimum. Wages need to be brought up for every worker below the upper class. Creating a super-class of $15.00 an hour workers seems kinda dangerous.
@frankieb, raising the minimum wage doesn’t affect inflation. Look at previous increases. There are no inflation bumps that can be attributed to raising the minimum wage, and no dips that can be attributed to not raising the minimum wage.
@Um, ICE, the labor market will do that. It’s done so before. We’ve even doubled the minimum wage before and workers with experience are still earning more than workers that are just starting out.
I wonder why some Seattle workers making $15 an hour are asking for less hours. Could it be because it raises their income enough to the point where they start losing federal and state benefits for the poor?
@guspasho tell me the last time the minimum wage was raised so drastically anyway, so as not to affect inflation?
Also, where does this inflation come from?
Wages has risen also along with the price of milk, gas, etc etc… how much are our real dollars worth? Buying Power. wise.
Also, do you think prices are raised to reflect minimum wage increases immediately?