AN ELEMENTARY school teacher has been forced to sleep in his car after failing to keep up with rising rent costs.
Bill Atkinson is now homeless in Austin, Texas, as he makes too much to qualify for housing assistance – but not enough to afford rent.
Atkinson doesn’t just work at his school– he also sleeps in the school’s parking lot.
The fourth-grade teacher has spent the last few weeks living out of his car.
To make matters even worse, his car doesn’t have air conditioning.
With temperatures soaring to the high 90s throughout August, his living situation isn’t just uncomfortable – it’s also dangerous.
“I do park at my school,” Atkinson said, as reported by ABC affiliate WFAA.
“I park in a position where I don’t get a lot of parents parking around my car, so they’re not as prevalent,” he added.
Atkinson cited the city’s high cost of living, student loan debt, and other bills as the primary reasons he couldn’t – and still can’t – find a place to live.
Despite making “too much” to qualify for income-based housing, Atkinson also can’t find a place he can afford to rent on top of paying his bills every month, even with the help of odd jobs.
“With apartment complexes now checking credit to get approved, I can’t even get approved at places I can afford and I make, technically, too much for income-based housing,” Atkinson said.
To qualify for Section 8 housing, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development says eligible households can not exceed an annual gross income of 50% of the median income.
In Austin, 50% of the median income for a single person, or $88,200 annually, amounts to $44,100.
Atkinson makes $53,000 a year as a teacher, nearly $9,000 over the median income – but also around $35,000 less than an average individual makes in Austin.
According to Zillow, the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the Austin area is around $1,400.
“I can tell you that many of our educators are living paycheck to paycheck,” Ovidia Molina, president of the Texas State Teachers Association, said.
“We have teachers that leave the profession because they’re going to make more money and be able to raise a family, to be able to purchase a home,” Molina added.
Atkinson agrees that it’s time for the state to pay its teachers more – and to increase wage limits for affordable housing.
How Much Do US Teachers Make?
Average teacher pay has failed to keep up with inflation over the past decade.
On average, teachers are making 5% less than they did 10 years ago, according to the National Education Association.
Teachers earn 26% more, on average, in states with collective bargaining, showcasing the power and advantage of unions.
The national average starting salary for a first-year teacher in the US is $44,530.
The national average teacher salary for teachers in the US is $69,544.
The states with the highest-paid teacher salaries, on average, are California ($95,160), New York ($92,696), and Massachusetts ($92,307).
The states with the lowest-paid teacher salaries, on average, are West Virginia ($52,870), Florida ($53,098), and South Dakota ($53,153).
In Texas, the average teacher’s starting salary is $47,195.
The average teacher salary for Texas educators is $60,716.
“Especially for those who are in that middle between, ‘OK, you’re a little bit above the poverty line but not really,'” he said.
“And then also to teachers need to be unionized,” he added.
Atkinson created a GoFundMe in the hopes of raising enough funds to pay off his debts and be able to afford an apartment of his own.
“Though I know my debts are my own, I am asking for assistance in paying them off, especially my school debt as I cannot get certified in work in school districts till I get my transcripts unlocked,” he wrote on the fundraising page.
“My total debt not including car or student loans is 13,564. I am asking for 13,600 to help cover transfer costs,” he added.
On August 14, Atkinson provided an update on his living situation, saying he was able to stay in a “good samaritan’s” home.
“I have found a temporary place to live through a good samariton [sic].”
“It is temporary as they are working on selling the house but allowing [me] to stay there in the meantime,” he added.
The next day, he met his fundraising goal.
“GoFundMe as been met. #almosthome #gypsyteacher #babblinbill #eternallygrateful,” he wrote.
As of August 20, Atkinson has raised $17,135 from 471 donations, surpassing his $13,600 goal.
