Grassroot families are now paying 39 percent of their income on rents, up from 29 percent last year, according to a survey by Society for Community Organization. Their burden increased as many families got unemployed or underemployed during the pandemic, and can hardly pay for other daily expenses after spending a big part of wages on rent. The survey result found that one and two-person households were paying as high as 45 percent and 50 percent of their income on rents respectively. The family ate only vegetables and tofu every day, and occasionally asked friends to lend them money to pay rent. The organization said the situation has reached a critical point, where grassroot families could only move to a location with worse condition if the pandemic continues.

Source: The Standard October 04, 2020 09:33 UTC