Austin, TX Living Wage

Type: Resolution

Status: Adopted on 5/9/02

Source File: http://www.cityofaustin.org/edims/document.cfm?id=86986

Text:

RESOLUTION NO. 020509-91

WHEREAS, according to the last two Conference of Mayors reports, the federal minimum wage is insufficient to afford anyone housing in any major city in America; and

WHEREAS, there is no single minimum wage dollar amount that can simultaneously satisfy the need to house minimum wage workers in some cities while not damaging small businesses in others; and

WHEREAS, there are 11.8 million minimum wage workers in the United States; and

WHEREAS, there are over 2 million homeless citizens in this country, an estimated 3,977 in Austin/Travis County on any given day; and

WHEREAS, the 2000 Conference of Mayors Report described the minimum wage as the most significant contributing factor of homelessness today; and

WHEREAS, the number of people in homeless situations continues to increase yearly, based on surveys of providers for homeless services; and

WHEREAS, despite strong economic growth in recent years, some of the primary causes of homelessness are poverty, low wages, and a lack of affordable housing; and

WHEREAS, increasing costs and competition for limited federal funds may result in the loss of critical services in the system of care for homeless persons; and

WHEREAS, the Universal Living Wage Formula as devised by House the Homeless Inc. supports ending homelessness for one-third of America's homeless citizens and prevent economic homelessness for all minimum wage workers;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN that the Austin City Council hereby endorses and idly supports the adjustment of the federal minimum wage to an amount equal to the Universal Living Wage Formula which ensures that a 40 hour a week minimum wage worker can afford at least an efficiency apartment anywhere in the United States while not spending more than 30% of their income on housing; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Austin City Council recommends a similar endorsement from local public and private sectors to help reduce the number of homeless within the Austin/Travis County area; and to work toward achieving that goal just as the City of Austin has worked toward that goal.