Cost of living in Miami-Dade: Single moms can’t afford it | Opinion

Now that anything remotely tied to “identity politics” has fallen out of favor, advocating for women may require some rejiggering of terminology. However, the need to prioritize women’s economic welfare remains as urgent as ever.

Frankly, semantics are the least of our problems. We all know that Miami-Dade has become an increasingly unaffordable place to live. Yes, it’s beautiful, fun and dynamic but also expensive.

With women making up more than half the population — and over a quarter of family households now headed by single women — women have more at stake than any other group when it comes to the health, welfare, safety and security of our families. And they’re struggling financially, local studies indicate.

The Women’s Fund of Miami-Dade provides a sobering look at affordability through its Miami-Dade Self-Sufficiency Standard. Without assistance, this tool calculates the income needed to cover basic needs — housing, childcare, food, transportation, healthcare and taxes. It finds that housing and childcare are the most significant expenses for families in the county.

How significant? A single parent with one preschooler and one school-age child earning minimum wage would need to work 149.7 hours per week just to meet their family’s basic needs. More often than not, that single parent is a woman.

The math doesn’t work

Wages are low, and housing costs are high. The nonprofit Partnership for Miami reports that Miami is one of the most unaffordable housing markets in the nation, with 61% of renter-occupied households and 33% of owner-occupied households classified as “cost-burdened” (spending more than 30% of their income on housing).

Even for single people, affordability is dire. Researchers from Chapman University ranked Miami the least affordable among 17 “severely unaffordable” U.S. housing markets. The situation is even worse for working families. Florida’s minimum wage remains at just $13-an-hour ($9.98 for tipped employees), making it nearly impossible for many to afford adequate housing and childcare.

And for women, the numbers are even more lopsided. Nationally, women still earn just 83 cents for every dollar earned by men.

The gap is even wider for women of color. In Miami-Dade, where costs keep climbing, that disparity can mean the difference between making rent or falling behind.

Even when the government steps in, the numbers rarely add up. For example, a new workforce housing project in Miami Beach, designed for teachers, first responders and hospitality workers, is offering 486-square-foot units starting at $2,385 per month. That rent is out of reach for most working people.

Looking for solutions

The good news? Few people deny the affordability crisis anymore. And some Miami-Dade officials are stepping up with solutions. Here are some:

• Commissioner Oliver Gilbert championed the Rapid Transit Zone ordinance, aimed at expediting high-density housing near public transit—where it belongs.
• Commissioner Eileen Higgins has over $1 billion in development and redevelopment projects underway in her district.
• Commissioner Keon Hardemon has led efforts to preserve affordable housing and prevent displacement by advocating for financial assistance for low-income homeowners.
• Commissioner Juan Carlos Bermudez has advocated for public-private partnerships to expand affordable housing by collaborating with developers and leveraging county resources.

This important work must continue. Because for most of us, Miami-Dade isn’t just a tough place to make a living — it’s a tough place to make a life.

You can call it “identity politics.” I call it a reality check. The affordability crisis is dragging women down.

Anna Hochkammer is the executive director of Florida Women’s Freedom Coalition. Contact: anna@floridawomensfreedomcoalition.com