Sociology Assignment. Poor People.?

Question

The average family on welfare (mom, dad, 2 kids ages 9 and 13) makes $600 a month. I'm making a budget for them. Shelter/Food/Utilities/Transportation...... I started with the first and I'm stumped. I know most places that are 1 bedroom or even 2 bedroom can be around $500 cheap. Does anyone know where poor people live without being on the "streets" or homeless. Is it possible to rent for around $200 a month even if that would involve the slums and/or just one bedroom.

Answer 1

There would probably be no way around one of the parents needing to take on a second job, or applying for help from the govt (As far as the legal options go) if they want to make enough money to get what they need.

Answer 2

no way rent now in days is off the roof even brok down placed charge a lot...my family rents we pay $1,000.00 per month for one room one bathroom apartment. But then again its price cuz of the area we live in...try looking on the internt type places for rent.

Answer 3

I figured it the way my rent is figured and on low income housing, with deductions and all.. a faily of 4 could pay as little as $12.00 in rent.. this of course will depend on where they live and whether they live in an apt or mobile home or house. Houses allow more than apts for utility allowance.. bigger cities or country living also allow more.  2 bedrooms allow more than 1 bedroom (deductions).. that is just for rent.. this again will vary based on where you live.. Of course, if you are in low income housing , you must have at least 2 bedroom ..anyway.. there is a LONG process to figure that and it is an estimate but maybe that will help.

Answer 4

Oh we are good at this in california, seeing as a 1 bedroom goes for 1200.  

P.S.  In many states welfare requires you to work or go to school so many hrs/wk.

But anyways...

In califonia, everything is more expensive, so that family would proably get about $1,000  ($600 is a family of 2 here).  But I will adjust it for you.

Welfare has to pay for mileage.  Utilities, you can find places to pay them, but assuming you cant, I will add it in.  They should get food stamps, and assuming it isn't enough, there are food banks.

So, what we have left then is shelter, utilities, and car insurance.

In California, we just rent a room in someones house.  Yep, I knew quite a few couples with 3 kids all in 1 bedroom.  so you can get that about $500, adjust that to other places, and you are looking at $300.  utilities are usually included, but assumin gthey aren't then add $100 for their share.  and I am pretty sure (at least where I live I seen something) that welfare can refer you to low cost car insurance.  so hopefully that $100 will cover it.

My sister knew a girl in vegas that got $400 for a family of 3.  She didn't have a car and her rent (utilities are included out there) costed exactly $400.

Answer 5

In my area I believe there are appartments that go based upon your income and a friend of mine told me a lot of families who are on welfare live in those apartments and at times only pay $100 a month to live there (minus cable bills etc.). You should check in your area and see if there is something of that nature and what a family of 4 with $600 month income would need to pay.

Other then that, no I do not know of any place around my area for about $500 month rent. We have a mortgage, so I have not been looking either, but from my previous knowledge most rentals here are $600-1300.