A teacher who launched a GoFundMe to help him afford a place to live has put a spotlight on teacher salaries as the new school year begins.

Bill Atkinson, a fourth grade teacher in Austin, Texas, said he began living in his car this summer when his previous living situation fell through and he could not afford rent on his $54,000 annual salary.

“No matter how much I borrowed or scraped, there was no catching up, because I just did not make enough to cover rent – because I was so used to living paycheck to paycheck, I didn’t have anything in savings to try to cover rent for a couple months,” he told “Good Morning America.” “So I tried to get a place, [but I] was having a hard time finding a place I could afford on my own.”

  • @sqw
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    2 months ago

    eh 54k is enough to scrape ass in austin. but debts beyond cost of living could easily, easily sink you.

    • @model_tar_gz@lemmy.world
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      62 months ago

      Debts like student loans to fund the degree that teachers are required (and to be fair, should) have?

      Loans to fund the PV