Left: Affordable Housing developed by the Tacoma Housing Authority

In an area such as Pierce County, many people pay more than they can afford for housing. Almost half of Pierce County renters pay too much - more than 30% of their income - for rent.

In Pierce County, most affordable housing serves renters who earn less than 60 percent of median income and first-time homeowners who earn less than 80 percent of median income.

According to a recent study, a person needs to earn at least $15.15 per hour to be able to afford a typical two-bedroom "market-rate" apartment in Pierce County. The average renter here makes $10.68 per hour.

Even more difficult is paying rent with a minimum wage job; Washington's 2009 minimum wage is only $8.55. That means a minimun wage earner would ned to work 80 hours a week in order to afford that apartment. Even two people working at minimun-wage jobs wouldn't earn enough to make that apartment affordable to them.