Homelessness is often thought to be the product of laziness or an inability to work. It is thought that if men and women living on the streets had jobs they could afford at least basic housing. However, “one in five homeless Americans is working, full-time or part-time” (Molloy). They are not homeless because they don't work enough, they are homeless because the amount they receive is not enough to support them. As of July 24, 2009, the minimum wage in America was $7.25 an hour. A study by the National Coalition for the Homeless found that “a minimum wage worker would have to work 83 hours a week” to afford rent on an average-priced two-bedroom apartment and still be able to afford food, clothing, health care and other. necessity (Molloy). It hasn't always been this way. In 1967 the minimum wage was the equivalent of $10.04 today and “a person working full time at the minimum wage earned enough to raise a family of three above the poverty line” (Molloy). Even though they would still be lower class, the family would have a roof over their heads and they would not starve. Now, this is not a realistic option; Even if the family has two sources of income, the cost of child care often equals or exceeds the income of one parent. The current minimum wage creates many obstacles for the poor and homeless, and unfortunately, a huge number of Americans fall into these groups. “More than 28 million people” earn less than $9.04 an hour, giving them an annual income “that marks the federal poverty line for a family of four” (Conlin and Bernstein). 28 million people represent a quarter of the American workforce. This means that a quarter of our workers cannot or can barely afford to support... half the paper... while passing a law linking the minimum wage and inflation seems almost impossible, all the other options that could also helping minimum wage earners are equally impossible. The current minimum wage is not enough to live on and leaving it as it is will only force more of our compatriots to leave their homes and take to the streets. Raising it to a living wage not only has no negative effects on employment, but it is also the most humane thing to do. Works cited by Conlin, Michelle, and Aaron Bernstein. “The working poor can't make it in America.” Opposing points of view in context. May 31, 2004. Web. February 24, 2014. Molloy, Aimee. “Low wages and limited job opportunities cause homelessness.” Opposing points of view in context. 2002. Network. February 24, 2014. Sklar, Holly. “Raising the minimum wage will help the poor.” Opposing points of view in context. 2011. Network. 24 February. 2014.