Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

CTyankee

(66,650 posts)
Thu Jul 17, 2025, 04:31 PM Jul 17

Here's an idea: rent free housing for teachers

This is being explored in New Haven to attract and retain good teachers. I think it's wonderful. As a homeowner in New Haven I am so proud of my city for doing this.


38 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Here's an idea: rent free housing for teachers (Original Post) CTyankee Jul 17 OP
What a lovely and innovative idea! HeartsCanHope Jul 17 #1
I know. And I had never thought of it. CTyankee Jul 17 #2
Newark, NJ has that NJCher Jul 17 #3
This may be the only way to keep teachers in some districts fujiyamasan Jul 17 #4
My friends daughter n law Tree Lady Jul 17 #5
I don't know. I'll try to find out and get back to you. Or perhaps Google knows! CTyankee Jul 17 #8
Why not just pay them enough in the first place? MichMan Jul 17 #6
Might be cheaper to give them free rent than increase pay for their mortages/insurance/taxes ... Igel Jul 17 #7
Is the free rent taxable as income? MichMan Jul 17 #9
Probably... but my law degree is from Law & Order and they mostly covered rapes and murders. nt ihaveaquestion Jul 18 #10
My concern for this would be that the teachers would be beholden to the school district... ihaveaquestion Jul 18 #11
I see what you mean. It's a wise fear. But New Haven has consistently been a liberal leaning town. I know that can CTyankee Jul 18 #12
They shouldn't really... SickOfTheOnePct Jul 18 #15
There are lots of views and opinions that teachers have which they should be allowed to express. ihaveaquestion Jul 19 #19
Those are facts, not "views" n/t SickOfTheOnePct Jul 19 #20
Of course they are to you and me. But to the RW nutters they are "liberal lies" and must be suppressed. ihaveaquestion Jul 19 #24
Correct TnDem Jul 19 #25
Who owns the "rent free housing" they're living in? flvegan Jul 18 #13
This message was self-deleted by its author PeaceWave Jul 18 #16
I copy/pasted this from the web page CTyankee Jul 18 #17
Teachers can get some sweet deals on HUD homes TexasBushwhacker Jul 18 #14
Our city has low rent housing for teachers and farm workers. hunter Jul 18 #18
As long as the powers that be don't hold that over their heads to enforce conformity. OldBaldy1701E Jul 19 #21
Better idea indusurb Jul 19 #22
your salaries for US physicians are off (they are far higher than 100-120K USD per annum) Celerity Jul 19 #23
I'm talking starting salaries here, entry level doctor's salaries, indusurb Jul 19 #26
Sorry, but you are offering up ex post facto-revised, vague, receipt-free positings. Also, I fundamentally disagree that Celerity Jul 19 #28
Receipts indusurb Jul 19 #30
the first 2 links do not work for me, and the 3rd does not aid your case Celerity Jul 19 #32
Well I don't know what's going on with it, or your browser indusurb Jul 19 #33
I live in Sweden (I have tripartite citizenship, US via birth, grew up in the UK, and now live in Sweden, my father is Celerity Jul 19 #34
OK then indusurb Jul 19 #35
I agree with your sentiment of course senseandsensibility Jul 19 #38
Back in the 40s and 50s, unmarried teachers had little choice no_hypocrisy Jul 19 #27
Yes, teachers have always been grossly underpaid indusurb Jul 19 #31
This is the "company town" concept and it has not been kind to workers. David__77 Jul 19 #29
what else do you know about New Haven? CTyankee Jul 19 #37
Here's the NJ version NJCher Jul 19 #36

HeartsCanHope

(1,163 posts)
1. What a lovely and innovative idea!
Thu Jul 17, 2025, 04:39 PM
Jul 17

When I taught there were lots of fellow teachers that could have used this starting out. Many new teachers moved into houses together to save on bills. When they got a little experience many of them moved to larger districts for better salaries. You couldn't blame them--salaries in Missouri were and are way too low to live comfortably in many districts. This idea is fantastic, and should be adopted everywhere!

CTyankee

(66,650 posts)
2. I know. And I had never thought of it.
Thu Jul 17, 2025, 04:48 PM
Jul 17

I hope that when we are finally rid of Trump and his support dries up except for the politically insane, we can have an outburst of creativity in thinking about our social ills and come up with great ideas such as this!

NJCher

(40,834 posts)
3. Newark, NJ has that
Thu Jul 17, 2025, 05:12 PM
Jul 17

It is a highrise. Ill see if i can find more about it and post back later.

fujiyamasan

(513 posts)
4. This may be the only way to keep teachers in some districts
Thu Jul 17, 2025, 05:25 PM
Jul 17

Especially in HCOL areas like in SoCal, where teachers often can’t afford to live in the district or near the schools they teach in.

I didn’t watch the video. How is it funded? Is it property taxes?

Tree Lady

(12,560 posts)
5. My friends daughter n law
Thu Jul 17, 2025, 05:41 PM
Jul 17

And husband live in Bar Harbor Maine. She is new teacher and he has odd jobs so not a lot of funds. Last 3 summers they lived in small trailer and worked at campground because rent is so high there. After summer people leave they have a house rental for 7 months.

I just heard she got new position on mainland so hoping they can find better housing. In expensive areas something has to be done.

ihaveaquestion

(3,874 posts)
10. Probably... but my law degree is from Law & Order and they mostly covered rapes and murders. nt
Fri Jul 18, 2025, 11:32 AM
Jul 18

ihaveaquestion

(3,874 posts)
11. My concern for this would be that the teachers would be beholden to the school district...
Fri Jul 18, 2025, 11:34 AM
Jul 18

and not feel free to express their own views in the classroom.

CTyankee

(66,650 posts)
12. I see what you mean. It's a wise fear. But New Haven has consistently been a liberal leaning town. I know that can
Fri Jul 18, 2025, 12:19 PM
Jul 18

change, however. Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty....

ihaveaquestion

(3,874 posts)
19. There are lots of views and opinions that teachers have which they should be allowed to express.
Sat Jul 19, 2025, 05:09 AM
Jul 19

Such as:

Evolution is a scientific fact,
Trickle down economics is BS,
The Confederacy lost the US Civil War,
Women and men are equal
Etc. etc. etc.

ihaveaquestion

(3,874 posts)
24. Of course they are to you and me. But to the RW nutters they are "liberal lies" and must be suppressed.
Sat Jul 19, 2025, 09:38 AM
Jul 19

The point is that there's always someone who might try to censor ideas and points of view. Hence the original point of tenure.

flvegan

(65,152 posts)
13. Who owns the "rent free housing" they're living in?
Fri Jul 18, 2025, 12:22 PM
Jul 18

Is it city/county/state owned, is it someone with excess housing to share or a tax writeoff, or is it the usual friend no-contract bidder who will make a mint off of the taxpayer? Sorry so cynical, but can you blame me?

And no, I'm not against the idea of rent free housing for teachers. I love it. I just want to know who is paying "the rent" and to whom and how much.

Response to flvegan (Reply #13)

CTyankee

(66,650 posts)
17. I copy/pasted this from the web page
Fri Jul 18, 2025, 12:47 PM
Jul 18

The
Friends Center for Children in New Haven launched an initiative in 2021 to provide rent-free housing for its teachers. The Friends Center owns these homes. The initiative aims to alleviate the financial burden of rent for teachers, as a survey revealed that only one of their 29 staff members owned a home, with most citing rent as their biggest expense.
The program has expanded, and the Friends Center is currently building its third home for teachers, which is expected to be ready for occupancy in the Fall of 2025. Once completed, the Friends Center will be providing free housing for a total of 10 teachers and 8 family members. The homes are also fully furnished through community donations.
The project is a collaborative effort between the Friends Center and students at the Yale School of Architecture, who design each home. Friends Center for Children views this initiative as a way to increase teacher compensation without raising tuition fees and to help educators achieve their financial goals.

TexasBushwhacker

(20,950 posts)
14. Teachers can get some sweet deals on HUD homes
Fri Jul 18, 2025, 12:24 PM
Jul 18

First responders as well. It's called the Good Neighbor Program.

hunter

(39,717 posts)
18. Our city has low rent housing for teachers and farm workers.
Fri Jul 18, 2025, 04:36 PM
Jul 18

The downside is you have to be a teacher or a farm worker, both jobs requiring exceptional and uncommon stamina.

The pay here is high compared to most of the nation but housing costs negate that.

OldBaldy1701E

(8,466 posts)
21. As long as the powers that be don't hold that over their heads to enforce conformity.
Sat Jul 19, 2025, 08:39 AM
Jul 19

It is a wonderful idea. I just hope the city and the system don't try to use it as 'leverage'.

indusurb

(172 posts)
22. Better idea
Sat Jul 19, 2025, 09:23 AM
Jul 19

Start paying teachers at the same rate you pay doctors(because frankly teachers are just as important as doctors in our society), say 100k-120k starting salary. Then they can buy their own house, pay off their student loans, and since salary seems to command respect in our society, be more respected in our society. Not to mention you would get a higher caliber of education grads coming out of college. I knew several ed. majors in college who would have made great teachers, but they took a look at their loans, a look at the potential salary, said screw it, I'm going elsewhere.

This is the approach many countries such as Finland take, and you know what, they have the top rated education systems in the world.

Stop trying to band-aid the system together. Pay teachers and pay them well

Celerity

(51,129 posts)
23. your salaries for US physicians are off (they are far higher than 100-120K USD per annum)
Sat Jul 19, 2025, 09:33 AM
Jul 19
https://www.kaptest.com/study/mcat/doctor-salaries-by-specialty/

Average Doctor Salaries by Specialty

In 2023, the average salary for all U.S. physicians, including Primary Care Physicians and Specialists, was $363k.

The average doctor salary grew by approximately 3% from 2022 to 2023.

Orthopedics is currently the top-paying medical specialty, with an average annual salary of $558k.


Average Annual Doctor Salary by Specialty

Here are the top-paying medical specialties, ranked by average annual income:

Orthopedics: $558,000
Plastic Surgery: $536,000
Cardiology: $525,000
Urology: $515,000
Gastroenterology: $512,000
Radiology: $498,000
Dermatology: $479,000
Anesthesiology: $472,000
Oncology: $464,000
Otolaryngology: $459,000
Surgery, General: $423,000
Ophthalmology: $409,000
Critical Care: $401,000
Pulmonary Medicine: $397,000
Emergency Medicine: $379,000
Pathology: $366,000
Ob/Gyn: $352,000
Neurology: $343,000
Nephrology: $341,000
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation: $341,000
Psychiatry: $323,000
Allergy and Immunology: $307,000
Rheumatology: $286,000
Internal Medicine: $282,000
Family Medicine: $272,000
Public Health & Preventive Medicine: $263,000
Infectious Diseases: $261,000
Pediatrics: $260,000
Diabetes and Endocrinology: $256,000

Source: MedScape Physician Compensation Report, 2024

indusurb

(172 posts)
26. I'm talking starting salaries here, entry level doctor's salaries,
Sat Jul 19, 2025, 09:42 AM
Jul 19

Which are around 100k-120k annually. Yes, they go up over time, and yes, I think that teacher's salaries should rise like that as well.

Celerity

(51,129 posts)
28. Sorry, but you are offering up ex post facto-revised, vague, receipt-free positings. Also, I fundamentally disagree that
Sat Jul 19, 2025, 10:02 AM
Jul 19

most teachers should be paid at a US physician level of salary. Just one reason: you would very likely bankrupt a shedload of public educational systems that are already struggling to survive.

indusurb

(172 posts)
30. Receipts
Sat Jul 19, 2025, 10:39 AM
Jul 19
https://www.salary.com/research/salary/posting/entry-level-doctor-salary

Another, that seems a bit of a low ball estimate.
https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Entry-Level-Doctor-Salary
Another that seems a bit on the high end.
https://salaryideas.com/average-physician-salary-in-the-us/

Combine these together and you get an estimate somewhere between 100k-120k.

As far as bankrupting school districts, you're right, which means funding would have to come from the feds. We could stop funding wars and start investing in our future.

indusurb

(172 posts)
33. Well I don't know what's going on with it, or your browser
Sat Jul 19, 2025, 11:40 AM
Jul 19

I do notice that the screen shot you took of the zip recruiter site has a different address in your browser than the link I provided, I don't know how you got to ziprecruiter.ie, are you not posting in the US?

You did get to the right place with the salary ideas site, but apparently didn't scroll down far enough. From the site, at the very bottom:
"5. How much do entry-level physicians earn in the US?
Entry-level physicians, such as those just finishing residency, typically earn between $150,000 and $200,000 per year, depending on their specialty and location. As they gain experience and establish their practice, their salaries often increase significantly."

How about this novel idea, do your own research, then I can nit pick your replies rather than engage in a substansitve dialogue about the merits of raising teachers' pay.

Celerity

(51,129 posts)
34. I live in Sweden (I have tripartite citizenship, US via birth, grew up in the UK, and now live in Sweden, my father is
Sat Jul 19, 2025, 11:53 AM
Jul 19

Swedish, my mum is Bajan ie from Barbados). They met in London, and I was born whilst they were in Los Angeles).

I don't know how you got to ziprecruiter.ie, are you not posting in the US?

indusurb

(172 posts)
35. OK then
Sat Jul 19, 2025, 12:03 PM
Jul 19

A summation then.
Salary.com states that the median entry level salary for doctors is $117k.

Zip recruiter has it at approximately 50k.

Salary ideas has it ranging from 150k-200k.

I'm basically spliting the difference between the highest and lowest estimates. Of course all of this varies by location and specialty.

senseandsensibility

(23,034 posts)
38. I agree with your sentiment of course
Sat Jul 19, 2025, 03:46 PM
Jul 19

but where I live (and taught for decades) one hundred K a year is not even close to enough to afford to buy a home. I was just scanning my local real estate sites and more than ninety percent of the homes were well over a million dollars. Even the very small condos were 800 to 900K.

no_hypocrisy

(52,387 posts)
27. Back in the 40s and 50s, unmarried teachers had little choice
Sat Jul 19, 2025, 09:46 AM
Jul 19

but to be boarders at homes. They just couldn't afford to buy their own houses in small towns.

indusurb

(172 posts)
31. Yes, teachers have always been grossly underpaid
Sat Jul 19, 2025, 10:46 AM
Jul 19

Mainly due to misogyny, teaching was considered women's work and therefore not valued as much. The US was able to build a top flight education system in the mid 20th century because women were generally limited to the professions of nursing, secretarial and teaching jobs. Thus we saw lots of top flight talent go into teaching. That started changing in the 1970's as more fields opened up for women, and that top flight talent migrated to better paying jobs.

David__77

(24,348 posts)
29. This is the "company town" concept and it has not been kind to workers.
Sat Jul 19, 2025, 10:29 AM
Jul 19

There is a spectrum between free labor and slavery, and this is a step in the wrong direction even if well-intended.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Here's an idea: rent free...