On Wednesday night, the hashtag #MakeRentAffordable became a trending topic on Twitter thanks to Make Room, an organization dedicated to advocating for renters’ rights in the United States. The group organized the tweetstorm in an attempt to raise awareness about the rising cost of living. The organization has dubbed September as National Month for Renters.
It’s our National #TwitterStorm! Use #MakeRentAffordable and show that #RentersMatter https://t.co/syysnVXgCh
— Make Room (@MakeRoomUSA) September 27, 2017
Using the hashtag, politicians and affordable housing advocates chimed in.
Groceries rank as the #1 tradeoff for people that can’t pay rent. No one should have to choose between food and housing #MakeRentAffordable.
— Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (@repcleaver) September 27, 2017
11.1 million renter households, or 27% of all renters, pay more than half their incomes for housing. #MakeRentAffordable @MakeRoomUSA
— SAHF (@SAHForg) September 27, 2017
As housing costs go ⬆️ , wage growth has been slow, especially for low-income households. Need #BetterDeal to #MakeRentAffordable pic.twitter.com/jfAgXSrjRa
— Denny Heck (@RepDennyHeck) September 27, 2017
U.S. Rep. Anthony Brown, D-Upper Marlboro tweeted that many Maryland households spend more than half of their income on rent, citing data from Make Room.
Too many Americans live paycheck to paycheck. We need to work together #MakeRentAffordable for working families in #Maryland pic.twitter.com/wbkLCh4KvG
— Anthony G. Brown (@RepAnthonyBrown) September 27, 2017
Recent data from Zillow shows that rental prices in Maryland are above the national average. In August, the median price for a one-bedroom apartment in Maryland was $1,415, making Maryland the 10th most expensive state for renters last month.
Washington, D.C. topped the list, with renters there paying a median price of $2,300 per month for a one-bedroom apartment, the data shows.
In 2017, the median rental price for a one-bedroom apartment in Maryland was $1,370, compared to $1,150 in 2010.
