Americans Struggling to Make Ends Meet | A Hidden America with Diane Sawyer (Nightline)

From fast food workers to shuttle bus drivers, many Americans aren't able to afford housing or pay the bills on current wages.

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1/13/17 – My Reality: A Hidden America

[rochester]

The new american dream: affording rent.

[wwood]

Working just to pay bills isn’t living

[sadnessbloo]

in this reality, only the ""upper class"" "lives". the ""middle class"" "struggles", and the ""lower class"" "endures". welcome to humanity.

[stefis]

My name is Stef...I am an American who grew up in Detroit, MI and lived in poverty my entire childhood. From not having a place to stay, to living on the streets, to living in a shelter(C.O.T.S). During High School I worked 3 jobs, (Home Depot, Panera Bread, and a co called Sundries) I was very tired and tried to excel very hard in school. It was very difficult, especially looking at what everyone else had, that I didn't. And I don't mean the expensive name brand clothing. I mean a house (or my own room, with a bed to lay my head on) and a car, and having some savings for college. After I got out of HS I went to a community college, that I could afford graduated in business and now I work as a supervisor of a hospital. I am very grateful for what I have, but I will tell you to anyone who takes the time to read this, have fellow feeling for your neighbor and listen to the stories of others. You wont believe what's behind a smile.Cheers,
Stef

[forman]

Two fast food jobs, EIGHT buses. I don't know how that dude manages. I legit couldn't do that every single day for 11 years

[loweanderson]

I commend that black man for taking 8buses to take care of his family working 2 jobs I do the same every day working warehouse jobs bro you are not alone

[maureencora]

$7.25 an Hour, 40 Hours a Week = $290. oo After U.S. Taxes the America Nightmare.

[tmcdowell]

I cannot believe how people are sticking their nose up at that young man, he’s not out robbing and stealing but instead making an honest living which is a lot more than I can say about Wall Street billionaires.

[wongsifu]

in today's America, middle class is dead. You are either rich or poor

[Onry]

I was just at Walmart tonight and I couldn't believe all the cars sitting in the adjacent parking lots with people living in them. Scary!

[Dj-Rabbit]

I have been with my lady for 20yrs. We were never able to get married or have children because we cannot afford it.

[chezwickcheese]

Schooling isn't the answer either. A university degree doesn't mean squat anymore. They're a dime a dozen and half the degrees offered are completely useless.

[stewdog]

The sad thing is even with a college degree, you aren’t that much better off.

[imdatdogmom]

That’s a real man, doesn’t matter what he does as long as he takes care of his family. Mad respect.

[Saffrone]

Who makes this prices. 800k house for a 3 bedroom 1 floor house.

[robleeg]

I'm 26 years old living in Atlanta Georgia. I'm trying so hard to do better moving up gradually. I went from being a housekeeper at $8.75 an hour to a Certified Nurse Assistant with 2 jobs. One where I make $11.00 an hour an another I'm at $13.50. I'm still struggling though because of taxes and the cost of living. Now I'm about to become a city bus driver starting at just a little more, $15.40 an hour. I just got my cdl permit and being trained for my cdl. I'm not going to settle and stay where I'm at. I'm about to get as many trades up under my belt as possible

[villafontananorte]

I make $20 in Ohio and work 40 hours. Single and no kids, I get taxed like crazy. I go to school and gas is a big expense for me plus preventive maintenance to my car once in a while. I drive a 08 Accord which will be paid off in 6 months. I made $48k last year and I can barely afford a descent life style. I paid $8k in taxes, $6k in rent, $3, 500k in car payment, $2, 000 in gas, $800 in car insurance for the whole year and 4k into my 401k. I was left barely with $20k left which does not include food, college expenses, phone, internet, electric bill, etc. And people want me to have kids? Fuck no.

[carlososcarcomedy]

Sad. However when the minimum wage goes up so will housing, groceries and gas. It’s a rat race.

[jasonpeterson]

People think just by staying in school you will survive. That is not how life works. Sad just so sad.

[Kinggregory]

You guys should be ashamed of yourself, the young man is WORKING... Not selling DRUGS or committing any CRIMES... The struggle is real for others, but at least he's trying.... I wished ABC news give out more info, personally I would help his family out, & even motivate him to desire more... Somehow he lost his zeal, meanwhile still trying... I dig that brother 👍