Report: Low-Income Renters Find Minimal Housing Choices

The national rental housing market is lacking 7.2 million affordable and available rental units for the 10.4 million Americans with extremely low incomes, according to a new study released by the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC).

The data published in NLIHC’s report “The Gap: The Affordable Housing Gap Analysis 2016” shows that 75 percent of extremely low income (ELI) renter households spend more than half of their income for housing, leaving them without inadequate funds for basic necessities and unexpected emergencies. NLIHC estimates that ELI renter households account for 24 percent of all U.S. renter households.

Furthermore, NLIHC found 20 states have fewer than the national average of 31 affordable and available units per every 100 ELI households, with Nevada offering the least opportunities with 17 affordable and available rental units every 100 ELI households. No U.S. metropolitan area has more than 46 affordable and available units per 100 ELI households.

“The Gap reveals an alarming reality about housing for extremely low income households,” said Andrew Aurand, vice president of research at NLIHC. “What is frustrating is the lack of timely action to address the issue. Millions of people in America are living in unaffordable rental homes. They are forced to cut their spending on food, transportation and health to pay rent.”