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While the Federal minimum wage was recently raised to $5.85 (a difference of .70), it still isn't enough to cover the cost of rent, groceries, health and vehicle insurance. A small but very vocal group from the Wyoming Coalition for the Homeless held a rally at the corner of Nationway and Logan on Tuesday, September 4, to bring attention to the need for a Universal Living Wage. This gathering was a part of the nationwide wage campaign. Virginia Sellner, director of the Wyoming Coalition for the Homeless, said it would take nearly $11 an hour to make it in Cheyenne. People getting by on anything less probably rely on some kind of assistance, she added. The National Coalition for the Homeless predicts that 3.5 million people will experience homelessness this year. According to the federal government, 42 percent of the homeless population also works at some point during the week. "You can get into low-income housing," Sellner said. "You can get into transitional housing. You can get into other things, but you're not living on your own." It's a sign that something is wrong when it requires welfare to buy food, she added. But a higher minimum wage could reduce dependence and the taxes to pay for these services. "We need to bring (the federal minimum wage) up to where people can do things on their own," Sellner said. "Sure, there are 'Help Wanted' signs but take the time to find out what the job is, how much it pays and if there are benefits." All it takes is one missed paycheck or a high doctor's bill to put someone on the streets, she added. 
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