Report: No City or State in the U.S. Has Enough Housing for Low-Income Residents

"The Gap: A Shortage of Affordable Rental Homes" illustrates the depth of the nation's rental housing affordability crisis.

2 minute read

March 14, 2019, 2:00 PM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Affordable Rental Housing

National Low-Income Housing Coalition / The Gap: A Shortage of Affordable Rental Homes

The National Low-Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) released its annual report on the state of the nation's housing today, and the picture is bleak.

"Today, more than 8 million Americans spend more than half their income on housing, meaning that these severely rent-burdened households have little left every month to pay for food, transportation, and healthcare," writes Patrick Sisson to share the news about the report. "No state or city in the entire country has an adequate supply of housing for extremely low-income housing population; California alone is short one million units."

It isn't just California getting a bad wrap with the findings of the report. As noted in local coverage for the Houston Chronicle by reporter Sarah Smith, "Houston is the least-affordable city in Texas for extremely low income renters..."

"Texas has fewer affordable units per 100 households for people of extremely low income than the country as a whole, per the report, coming out ahead of only six states. The national average is 37 homes per 100 extremely low income renters; Houston, however, only has 19 homes for that demographic," adds Smith.

Returning again to Sisson's coverage of the report, the current presidential administration and the upcoming presidential election also feature prominently in the narrative about the state of the nation's housing market.

The Trump administration completely fails to address the affordable housing crisis, or propose any new policies or programs that could help alleviate the strain. "The Trump administration, in its latest budget proposal, suggests slashing funding for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) by more than 16 percent, with those cuts affecting public housing and the maintenance and improvement of public housing buildings, and wants to add work requirements to existing programs," according to Sisson.

On a press call to promote the new report, Diane Yentel, president and CEO of the NLIHC, contrasted those proposals with those of Democratic presidential hopefuls Kamala Harris and Elizabeth Warren. According to Yentel, the housing programs proposed by senators Elizabeth Warren and Kamala Harris, "offer bold solutions, 'the likes of which, in scale and scope, we haven’t seen in decades.'"

Thursday, March 14, 2019 in Curbed

Aerial view of Eugene, Oregon at dusk with mountains in background.

Eugene Ends Parking Minimums

In a move that complies with a state law aimed at reducing transportation emissions, Eugene amended its parking rules to eliminate minimum requirements and set maximum parking lot sizes.

December 3, 2023 - NBC 16

Green Paris Texas city limit sign with population.

How Paris, Texas Became a ‘Unicorn’ for Rural Transit

A robust coalition of advocates in the town of 25,000 brought together the funding and resources to launch a popular bus service that some residents see as a mobility lifeline—and a social club.

November 30, 2023 - Texas Monthly

SMall backyard cottage ADU in San Diego, California.

San Diegans at Odds Over ‘Granny Towers’

A provision in the city’s ADU ordinance allows developers to build an essentially unlimited number of units on single-family lots.

November 29, 2023 - CALmatters

Aerial view of Palo Alto, California at sunrise.

Palo Alto Expands Church ‘Safe Parking’ Program

The city is considering adding commercial lots to the program, which provides safe parking and amenities for people living in cars.

December 6 - ABC 7 News

View of green oil wells in a residential neighborhood in California.

Report: California’s Orphan Wells Still Pose Health Risks

Tens of thousands of idle oil wells litter the state. Taxpayers are often on the hook for cleanup.

December 6 - LAist

Red picnic benches in lush forested area in Griffith Park in Los Angeles, California.

Healing Neighborhoods Through Park Equity

Learn more about ways to improve park equity with Norma García-González, the director of the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation, and Catherine Nagel, the executive director of the City Parks Alliance.

December 6 - Resources Radio

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

"Rethinking Commuter Rail" podcast & Intercity Bus E-News

Chaddick Institute at DePaul University

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.