I think Joe's numbers are a good start--assuming of course one can find housing in SoWal for $1,000 per month. My guess is that places like that have long since been sold off for a hefty profit.
Settling on a single wage is far too simplistic. There are so many more variables to consider. For example:
Not all employees are waiters who would beef up their wages with tips (they also need house cleaners [tips are expected but rarely received]; food counter workers, clerks, lifeguards, beach chair attendants, reservation staff, security, etc.). The minimum wage will have to be set to draw in the non-tip employees.
Most of the jobs are seasonal and finding roommates and getting long-term leases wouldn't apply.
Rental units in and around a decent driving distance are as rare as rocking horse manure. Going forward one must assume there are some homeowners willing to rent their "investment" to multiple tenants in the 18-to-20 age group [not likely]. Assuming this would happen...when employees are needed most (in the tourist season) home owners who may want to rent at other times of the year will pull their rentals off the market--why get $1200 a month when you can get $1400 a week?
Lots of younger folks [and older folks] have debt obligations (car payments, student loans, tire rims, cell phone bills) and poor credit scores that would not pass muster with landlords who run credit checks before renting.
Most people who go through the time and expense of moving into an area and settle down do so with the intention (and the need) to be employed full-time. Many of SoWal jobs that go begging wouldn't provide the security needed to make people consider such a move.
Finding folks to take summer jobs in the past worked because there was a good mix of various levels of income classes scattered around the panhandle. In Destin and Panama City there were several old mid-long term furnished beach apartments and homes that had no problem housing a bunch of service workers who migrated down from the North to make money during the summer season.
In the last 2-3 years all of that changed. Old motels and apartments were torn down and replaced (or are in the process of being replaced) by high-cost condos. Older rental houses were sold and the new owners have increased rent considerably trying to cover their carrying costs and make a profit. Whole communities of low-mid income families sold out or were priced out of the area. Along with them went an entire group of young family members willing to take low-wage jobs or adults willing to take a part-time weekend job to supplement their low salaries.
When all is said and done, I can't offer up any near-term or quick fix solution--I wish you luck trying. I DO know that $12.50 isn't going to attract the quality and quantity of employees needed to support the tourist season, but throwing money at the problem appears to be the only solution until affordable housing returns to SoWal or a massive migrant worker program is employed. I think SoWal businesses are going to have a tough go of it over the next few tourist seasons until they figure it out and they'd better figure it out soon before all those new condos and housing areas come on line and are filled with folks wanting to be serviced.
in search of entertainment and a meal. It's the price SoWal now must pay for its rush to gentrification.
oops!