Housing Advocacy:
Who needs affordable housing?

More people than you might realize. The economic expansion of the 1990s obscured certain trends and statistics that point to an increased, not decreased, need for affordable housing.

The generally accepted definition of affordability is for a household to pay no more than 30 percent of its annual income on housing. Families who pay more than 30 percent of their income for housing are considered cost burdened and may have difficulty affording necessities such as food, clothing, transportation and medical care.

An estimated 12 million renter and homeowner households now pay more then 50 percent of their annual incomes for housing, and a family with one full-time worker earning the minimum wage cannot afford the local fair-market rent for a two-bedroom apartment anywhere in the United States. The lack of affordable housing is a significant hardship for low-income households preventing them from meeting their other basic needs, such as nutrition and healthcare, or saving for their future and that of their families.

Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

About Funders Together Chronic Homelessness General Questions About Homelessness Health and Mental Illness Housing Advocacy Role of Funders Supportive Housing Family Homelessness Free Monthly E-Newsletter Sign Up for Monthly E-News and Other Announcements	Home : Question & Answers : Housing Advocacy Housing Advocacy: Who needs affordable housing? More people than you might realize. The economic expansion of the 1990s obscured certain trends and statistics that point to an increased, not decreased, need for affordable housing. The generally accepted definition of affordability is for a household to pay no more than 30 percent of its annual income on housing. Families who pay more than 30 percent of their income for housing are considered cost burdened and may have difficulty affording necessities such as food, clothing, transportation and medical care. An estimated 12 million renter and homeowner households now pay more then 50 percent of their annual incomes for housing, and a family with one full-time worker earning the minimum wage cannot afford the local fair-market rent for a two-bedroom apartment anywhere in the United States. The lack of affordable housing is a significant hardship for low-income households preventing them from meeting their other basic needs, such as nutrition and healthcare, or saving for their future and that of their families. Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Other questions & answers related to this topic: What are some of the key statistics to understand regarding the lack of affordable housing in many communities of the U.S.? Does the minimum wage provide adequate income for families and individuals seeking to rent or own a home of their own? What are some of the implications for funders interested in issues of homelessness and affordable housing? What other good resources exist for supporting the development of affordable housing in our communities? What are housing trust funds, and how are they being used to provide access to affordable housing? What is the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program?	SEND US YOUR QUESTIONS Find what you were looking for in Q&A? If not, click here to submit your question directly to us. READ MORE ON... Affordable Housing Chronic Homelessness Health and Mental Illness Supportive Housing

Housing Advocacy:Who needs affordable housing?

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Housing Advocacy:
Who needs affordable housing?