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‘It has to stop’: rent report shows sky-high costs of living in Hamilton

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A recent study by Zoocasa Real Estate looked at how much money those making minimum wage are putting towards housing.

They found to live comfortably in Canada, people with minimum wage incomes would have to make double or triple the amount just to cover their basic expenses.

“Far too many people are trying to coble together multiple part time jobs just to try and make ends meet and they are falling further and further behind,” Tom Cooper, director of Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction said.

“It has to stop.”

According to Zoocasa, the recommended income a person should be spending on rent is 32 per cent.

According to the study’s findings, Hamiltonians would need to make nearly $42 per hour to afford to rent a two bedroom home in the city.

“It’s hard for so many people to find affordable housing in the city, even people on a fixed income, it’s hard for them to find housing,” Tara Todorovic of Zoocasa said.

The Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction says the city’s living wage will be recalculated next month.

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