About affordable housing...

Something you should know about housing in the United States:

There is not a state in the country where the two-bedroom fair market rent is affordable to someone earning minimum wage. Further, there is not a single county where the full-time minimum wage can cover a two-bedroom apartment.

The hourly wage a household must earn (working 40 hrs/wk, 52 wks/year) to afford the Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at 30% of income (click image to enlarge)

The number of jobs (40 hrs/week, 52 wks/yr) per household at prevailing minimum wage needed to afford the Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at 30% of income (click image to enlarge)

This outrageous, unsustainable, and we need to do something about it!

Let the training begin!

My bike arrived this week! It came in a few pieces that I put together. I then spent a few hours attaching all of the fun accessories, and finally, today, took my first ride on it! It was a solid 14 miles down the bike path to Elyria. Jackie was kind of enough to accompany me and we had a great time!

Many more wonderful rides to come! I hope to continue my training short, hour-long rides about 3-4 times per week over the next couple weeks, then I'll increase my distance.

Fundraising update: $1,838.48. Thanks for all of the support thus far! Every donation will really make a huge impact and directly assist affordable housing efforts. Please continue to support this important part of our country at this time! It's easy to make a tax-deductible contribution at bikeandbuild.org

Right out of the box

All put together!

Right before my first of many rides!

Trip update!

I have ordered my bike and all of my gear, so training will begin any day now! I'm getting very excited! I contacted a few local newspapers and am hoping they'll be willing to publish an article about me and this project. That would increase awareness and hopefully donations as well. I'm still accepting donations and am hoping to plan some events in Oberlin to increase contributions. Please consider making a (tax-deductible!) contribution if you can and, either way, please spread the word!