Nationwide, there are only 35 affordable and available homes for every 100 lowest-income renter families.
An annual report from the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) reveals that every U.S. state has a shortage of rental housing for the lowest-income households. “Shortages of affordable and available homes for these renters range from 7,154 in South Dakota to nearly one million in California.”
The 2026 The Gap: A Shortage of Affordable Homes report found a national shortage of 7.2 million homes for the lowest-income renter households, with just 35 homes available for every 100 extremely low-income renter households. According to the report, 74 percent of extremely low-income renters spend over half their income on housing, and Black, Latino, and Indigenous households are disproportionately affected.
The report offers several recommendations, saying that “Congress must increase investments in deeply targeted rental subsidies, strengthen programs that preserve existing affordable housing, and fund emergency assistance programs to prevent evictions. State and local governments can also bolster affordable housing development by reforming zoning laws and reducing burdensome regulations.”
Read the full story: No State has an Adequate Supply of Affordable and Available Rental Homes for the Lowest-Income Renters
Pennsylvania Housing Action Plan Calls for $1B Fund, Expanded Renter Protections, Homebuyer Assistance
Gov. Shapiro’s proposed plan would bolster support for renters and homebuyers and reduce barriers to housing development.
‘Montana Miracle:’ The State Actually Succeeding at Housing Reform
A series of ambitious zoning reforms is having a significant impact on the state’s housing supply.
NYC Council Approves Brooklyn Rezoning Plan
The Atlantic Avenue Mixed Use Plan includes infrastructure investments and could bring 4,600 new housing units to parts of Brooklyn.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour
If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.
Chicago breaks ground on $3 billion megadevelopment
The new neighborhood, titled Foundry Park, will one day host 3,700 residences.
California High-Speed Rail Authority CEO resigns after $600,000 scandal
Under Ian Choudri, the authority used taxpayer dollars to fund first class flights and trips to nightclubs.
Want to study the Missouri River? Soon, you may need unanimous approval from 10 states
Legislation would require 10 governors’ permission to study or build projects moving water outside the basin.
Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River
Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority