For many, when you read this you'll wonder how the heck you're going to make ends meet working at minimum wage. 

The cold reality here is that if you're an full-time minimum wage worker, you can't afford rent in ANY state, according to a recent study by the National Low Income Housing Coalition.

The graphic below from NLIHC shows how much you'd have to make per hour in Illinois working full-time, 52 weeks a year, to afford Fair Market rent on a two-bedroom home. And that would be without having to spend more than the recommended 30% of your income on housing.

Hourly Income Needed to Afford Rent in Illinois and U.S.
National Low Income Housing Coalition
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See the full report, click here.

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