In Austin, Texas, Bill Atkinson is a fourth-grade math teacher who earns $54,000 annually but found himself living in his car after struggling to find affordable housing. He’s just one of thousands of teachers in the U.S. struggling to find affordable housing. A recent Redfin study reveals that teachers can afford only 12% of homes near their workplaces.
Bill’s story gained attention from Good Morning America, People, KVUE, and WFAA, shedding light on a widespread issue. Following the launch of a GoFundMe campaign to address his debt, he found affordable housing by moving into a PadSplit home near his workplace.
The financial tightrope of teaching
“Even at a $54,000 salary in Austin, I’m living check-to-check and can’t pay off my debt,” Bill shares. His experience is far from unique in a city where the cost of living has skyrocketed. Despite his full-time teaching position, he struggled to find affordable housing.
“I moved around constantly in Austin. I have not had good credit since graduating college, so finding a place to live has always been challenging,” he explains. This constant instability culminated in Bill living in his car, highlighting the precarious financial position many teachers find themselves in throughout the U.S.
Managing teaching without a home
Bill’s daily routine during this period was a testament to his dedication and the severity of the housing crisis. “There was a Walmart and a Planet Fitness within five miles of the school, so I knew I could make it work,” he recounts. “I had places to sleep, and I would shower at the gym before getting to school really early in the morning and work at school late until it had cooled off at night before sleeping in my car.”
This situation not only affected Bill’s personal life but also impacted his ability to teach effectively. “When you’re stressed about your finances and living in your car, there’s always a part of your mind stressing out about what’s happening,” he explains. “It makes it difficult to focus on the students and properly teach.”
The hidden costs of teaching
Bill’s struggle sheds light on the often-overlooked financial burdens teachers face. “I have a lot of coworkers with roommates, and many teachers have to work one to two side jobs,” he says. “Car problems or unexpected expenses like that are extremely stressful for most teachers because we just don’t have the money for that in our savings.”
These financial pressures extend beyond housing. “A lot of teachers will even put off going to the doctor because they don’t know if they can afford their copay or necessary procedures. We can’t afford a $1,000 medical bill,” Bill adds.
Falling through the cracks of affordable housing
Ironically, many teachers find themselves in a financial grey area – earning too much to qualify for government-provided affordable housing programs while not enough to afford market-rate housing comfortably.
“The problem with traditional affordable housing here is that most teachers make just above the maximum amount you can make to qualify. Even if you qualify for it, the rent for affordable housing is still $1,200-$1,300,” says Bill.
He adds, “There’s a lot of people in that ‘middle’ who are considered above the poverty line that make too much for assistance but don’t make enough to live. Inflation put the costs of everything out of our range.”
A community responds
Encouraged by friends, Bill took to social media to share his story and started a GoFundMe campaign. The response was overwhelming. “I was thinking I’d be extremely lucky if I made $500 to $1,000,” he recalls. “One of my coworkers shared the GoFundMe, KVUE saw it, and it just exploded!”
This outpouring of support has greatly helped Bill and brought national attention to many educators’ struggles.
Finding a solution through innovative housing
Shortly after appearing in multiple news stories, Bill found housing through PadSplit, the nation’s largest coliving platform. “I was able to rent with PadSplit because they don’t require a minimum credit score. You base the rent on what we can afford with our income,” he explains.
This solution has provided Bill with much-needed stability. “It’s going great! Now, I’m renting through PadSplit in Austin, Texas, now that I don’t have to worry about paying off my debt as much,” he shares. The impact on his daily life was immediate: “My PadSplit room is comfortable, and the property managers are super nice. They got me a parking permit super easily.”
One aspect that particularly impressed Bill was the speed of the process. “I was able to move into a PadSplit within a week,” he says, contrasting this with traditional apartments where “it takes one to two months after you sign the lease to get a move-in date.”
Reflecting on his experience, Bill adds, “PadSplit is an amazing thing if you can afford it and find a spot. Most people I see living in PadSplits in Austin are college kids without financial aid for housing or middle-aged professionals who don’t have the credit or don’t make enough to afford a traditional apartment here.”
A call for systemic change
While affordable housing solutions like PadSplit provide crucial relief, Bill’s experience underscores the need for a broader reevaluation of our country’s approach to affordable housing and teacher compensation. “I don’t think our poverty line is accurate anymore for the current inflation. It’s not reflective of what’s actually happening in our economy,” says Bill.
His advice to others facing similar challenges resonates with hope and resilience: “Don’t be afraid to reach out. Let people in your life know you’re struggling. You may have coworkers who know of helpful services you can’t find alone. Don’t be ashamed of what you must do to fix your situation.”
Looking to the future
As Bill continues his journey, now with a roof over his head but still navigating financial challenges, his story remains a powerful testament to educators’ dedication and the urgent need for comprehensive, affordable housing solutions.
Innovative approaches like PadSplit offer a glimpse into what’s possible when we think creatively about housing. Bill’s positive experience demonstrates that flexible, accessible housing options can make a meaningful impact on people’s lives. “I plan to pay off my debts and build up my credit while staying in a PadSplit for about six months before buying my own place,” he shares, highlighting how such solutions can be a stepping stone to long-term stability.
While platforms like PadSplit provide crucial relief, they are just one piece of the puzzle. The question now is not whether we can afford to address this crisis but whether we can afford not to. The future of our education system—and, by extension, our society—hangs in the balance.
It’s time to ensure that those who dedicate their lives to educating our children can at least count on a stable roof over their heads.
By addressing this issue comprehensively, we can create a sustainable future where educators like Bill can focus on what they do best: teaching the next generation.
