Low-income renters find few options
For every 100 renters with extremely low incomes, only 30 homes are available. In some states, the situation is worse.
For every 100 renters with extremely low incomes, only 30 homes are available, according to a new report by a housing advocacy group.
That's true in all 50 states, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, which defines extremely low income as families that earn less than 30% of the median income for their area. That's almost 25% of all renters nationwide.
Those renters have fewer homes that are affordable and available in 13 states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin. The situation is most dire in Nevada, which has only 17% of the needed homes available for extremely low-income renters. The situation is best in Wyoming, which has 55 available and affordable rentals for every 100 extremely low-income renters.
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"There are millions of families in the United States whose incomes are so low and whose housing costs are so high that all it would take is a few days out of work with a sick child or one high heating bill to push them into homelessness," Sheila Crowley, president of the coalition, said in a news release. "This is the forgotten housing crisis, overshadowed by the emphasis on foreclosed upon or underwater homeowners."
As more Americans have turned to rental housing, incomes have fallen and rents have risen, the situation has gotten worse, according to the coalition's report, "Housing Spotlight: The Shrinking Supply of Affordable Housing."
About 40 million U.S. households rent their home, and 9.8 million of those have extremely low incomes, a number that grew by 200,000 between 2009 and 2010.
In Columbus, Ohio, for example, a two-bedroom apartment costs $780 a month, but families entering homeless shelters have an average monthly income of $480, Sara Loken, chief of staff for the Community Shelter Board, told The Columbus Dispatch. That lack of affordable housing is the biggest reason families end up homeless.
There is also a shortage of housing for those with very low incomes, up to 50% of median income.
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Curse of Capitalism is coming home to roost. Capitalism is dead which is behind poverty, hunger, illiteracy, homelessness, joblessness, environmental destruction, all the other kinds of unethical and immoral dealings.
The world will be better of without Capitalistic exploitation and blood sucking. Most of the Capitalistic institutions are controlled by the greedy zionists and their zionist supporters.
There are limits of dissent in a society dedicated to the pursuit of profits...
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I work in an apt leasing office and can tell you Yes rent is too high, but balancing that, we have tenants that feel it is more important to have a new car, new cell phone with data pkg $1200 shoes etc and rent comes last. I've actually had a resident tell me if they paid their rent they "wont be able to afford to eat out " They eat out every night! yes rent is high, I'm a renter, and my rent is NOT paid by anyone but me, but a lot of people need to learn to prioritize, the people who own these properties are in BUSINESS its not a charity!
I bought my house because buying a house cost about $550 a month vs 900-1100 a month, in rent. Granted you are now responsible for repairs, but well look at the savings and then you will own it in 20-30 years!!!
About Teresa Mears
Teresa Mears is a veteran journalist who has been interested in houses since her father took her to tax auctions to carry the cash at age 10. A former editor of The Miami Herald's Home & Design section, she lives in South Florida where, in addition to writing about real estate, she publishes Miami on the Cheap to help her neighbors adjust to the loss of 60% of their property value.
msn real estate is social
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