Low-Income Renters Lack Affordable Units

Affordable housing remains a problem for low-income Americans in most housing markets in the country, according to a report by the Washington, D.C.-based National Multi Housing Council.

The study, titled “Housing Affordability: The Apartment Universe,” found that despite the economic expansion of the late 1990s, there has been little improvement in affordability problems since 1989.

The report found that 26% of apartment renters (3.8 million) received some sort of federal housing assistance in 1999.

Of the 74% of unassisted apartment renters, 23% (2.3 million) paid 30% to 50% of their income on rent plus utilities, and 19% (1.9 million), more than 50% of their income on rent plus utilities.