Can't afford a house in Rochester, even on a good salary? | Local News

Heather Smith says affordable housing isn't always affordable.

The single mother of two said when her $880-per-month rent in southeast Rochester jumped by $85 in the second year, it left her struggling to pay for rent and food, even though she has good job at Zumbro Valley Health Center.

"Why am I not able to afford the basics I need to live?" she asked during Tuesday's community meeting held by CURE — Communities United for Rochester's Empowerment — a social action group affiliated with SEIU Healthcare.

She said the unexpected increase on an already tight budget could have been unbearable without outside family support.

"I got a 46-cent raise at work," she said, noting it didn't cover the rent increase, or her rising food costs.

"How am I supposed to save for a house?" she said.

Homeownership, said Zach Winter, doesn't necessarily solve the problem of a tight budget.

He said he bought a house near Silver Lake, which initially reduced his monthly housing costs when his $750 rent was converted into a lower mortgage payment.

This year, his monthly payment climbed from $676 to $905, largely based on increased property taxes.

Still, he said, he's better off than friends who are forced to pay $1,000 per month for rent.

"I still have a house, but I'm struggling and my friends are struggling even more," he said.

'You have to find a way'

Smith and Winter were among more than 120 area residents gathered to express concerns about a variety of issues on Rochester, ranging from a need for affordable housing to calls to respond to prejudice.

However, voices also called for taking more personal responsibility..

"When there is not a way, you have to find a way," said Nashauna Lenoir, who said help and housing options are available for those willing to seek them out. She spoke of finding support through Olmsted County Community Services after moving to Rochester from Chicago six years ago.

She said she struggled with low-income housing that was unsafe for her children and decided to seek changes with county support. She urged others to take personal responsibility, rather than asking others to find solutions.

She said personal experience showed her the importance of doing things for herself. After homeownership didn't work out for her, she said she had to reassess her actions.

"It wasn't because we couldn't afford it," she said. "It was because we weren't budgeting our money."

Through Olmsted County programs, she said she has learned to be more self-sufficient and has found housing with the Housing and Urban Development voucher program while returning to school.

At the same time, she said she sees a need for more youth activities, which is part of the reason she is asking to form a nonprofit organization to help youth.

Calls for solutions

Johnny Akzam, a member of the CURE group and candidate for Congress in Minnesota's First District, said the varied concerns voiced Tuesday demonstrate the need for the group.

"We're going to identify the problems we see, and we are trying to move forward," he said, noting the group formed four weeks ago.

CURE members plan to take action Thursday by meeting with Rochester City Council member Mark Bilderback to push for his support of a proposed city policy to increase the number of affordable housing units being built in the city.

The proposed policy would offer incentives to developers to include a percentage of housing units that would be affordable to people earning up to 50 percent of the area median income.

The proposal presented to the city in May calls for 10 percent of housing units to be deemed affordable, but CURE organizers want to push Bilderback to support a 20 percent goal.

Barbara Postema, another CURE member, said the group is targeting Bilderback because it sees him as the potential deciding vote on the issue when it faces council action.

Rally and march

In addition to meeting with Bilderback at City Hall, the group plans to rally and march to the 501 on First apartments to raise awareness for the need of affordable housing options. The apartment complex, which opened nearly a year ago, has rents ranging from $1,050 for studio apartments to as much as $2,600 for two-bedroom units.

Postema said the group needs a large number of supporters to raise awareness amid rising costs.

"Rents are going up for a tax and what are we getting out of it as a community?" she asked.

The CURE members asked those gathered Tuesday at the Eagles Club to join them Thursday at 3 p.m. in City Hall to prepare to meet with Bilderback or for the march and rally, which is expected to start by 5 p.m.

Several of the residents gathered said the see a need to raising awareness for people who may fall through the cracks.

"While I don't make minimum wage — and I'm blessed for that — I'm not rich either," Ruby Wyatt said, noting it's difficult to make ends meet as a single mother amid rising costs in Rochester.

"I don't see it in my future at all," she said.