On December 9, 2008, the Delaware News Journal reported that a growing number of people in Delaware who have been squeezed by rising rents and declining wages over the past several years, according to figures released by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Census data shows that:

•Median monthly rents, meaning half of renters pay more and half pay less, rose by 13 percent to 14 percent since 2000.

•Median household incomes dropped by 12 percent to 18 percent during the same period.

•A third to more than half of renters spend at least 35 percent of their income on rent, even though housing and financial experts say that figure should not exceed 30 percent.

Many more families are living in motels, homeless shelters or even their cars because they can no longer afford their rent, said Barbara Reed, director of housing and financial management for West End Neighborhood, which offers housing assistance to low-income families.