House Poor: Low-Income Homeowners Struggle in the Shadows

A recent Shelterforce article by Daniel McCue, senior research associate at the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University, highlights the growing financial challenges faced by low-income homeowners. This trend is often overshadowed by the focus on rising home prices and interest rates affecting potential buyers.

Key findings include:

1. Rising cost burdens: Between 2019 and 2022, the number of cost-burdened homeowners (those paying over 30% of income on housing) increased by 3 million to 19.7 million households
2. Most affected groups: Households earning less than $30,000 per year (70% burden rate); Homeowners aged 65 and over
3. Contributing factors: Surging home insurance costs (up 21% nationally, 35% in Florida); Increasing property taxes (4.1% average rise nationwide); Higher maintenance and repair costs for aging homes
4. Equity gains not a universal solution: While average homeowners gained $200,000 in equity over four years, accessing this wealth can be costly or disruptive.
5. Limited assistance programs: The Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) helped 500,000 households but is now closed in most states; LIHEAP offers energy cost assistance but is limited in scope
6. Emerging solutions: Energy efficiency programs, including new funding from the Inflation Reduction Act; State and local property tax relief initiatives; Home repair financing programs and grants
7. Policy implications: McCue emphasizes the need for ongoing assistance programs to address homeowner cost burdens before they reach crisis levels, potentially avoiding more costly interventions in the future.

This trend underscores the importance of supporting existing low-income homeowners to maintain housing stability and realize the full benefits of homeownership.