That pressure is increasingly intense for those at the bottom. Of the 8.28 million Americans living below the federal poverty line in 2010, three-quarters were spending more than half their pay on housing, according to the housing coalition.
Most and least expensive states for renters, as compared to area wages
| State | Fair-market rent for a two-bedroom apartment | Hourly wage / Annual income needed to afford FMR 2 BR | Estimated mean hourly wage of renters | Full-time job at mean renter wage needed to afford a 2 BR | Full-time jobs at minimum wage of $7.25 needed to afford 2 BR | Rent that is affordable at mean renter wage |
| 1. Hawaii | $1,647 | $31.68 / $65,889 | $13.61 | 2.3 | 4.4 | $708 |
| 2. California | $1,353 | $26.02 / $54,127 | $17.68 | 1.5 | 3.3 (at state's $8 rate) | $920 |
| 3. New Jersey | $1,302 | $25.04 / $52,081 | $16.40 | 1.5 | 3.5 | $853 |
| 4. Maryland | $1,291 | $24.83 / $51,637 | $15.06 | 1.6 | 3.4 | $783 |
| 5. New York | $1,283 | $24.68 / $51,337 | $21.45 | 1.2 | 3.4 | $1,115 |
| U.S. national average | $949 | $18.25 / $37,960 | $14.15 | 1.3 | 2.5 | $736 |
| 46. Mississippi | $622 | $11.97 / $24,891 | $10.03 | 1.2 | 1.7 | $522 |
| 47. Kentucky | $616 | $11.85 / $24,648 | $10.76 | 1.1 | 1.6 | $560 |
| 48. South Dakota | $599 | $11.52 / $23,954 | $9.61 | 1.2 | 1.6 | $500 |
| 49. West Virginia | $598 | $11.50 / $23,917 | $9.88 | 1.2 | 1.6 | $514 |
| 50. Arkansas | $593 | $11.41 / $23,773 | $10.83 | 1.1 | 1.6 | $563 |
* Source: The National Low Income Housing Coalition, "Out of Reach 2012."
* Fair-market rent (FMR) is the 40th percentile of gross rents for typical, non-substandard units.
* Average renter wages gauged from 2010 federal Bureau of Labor Statistics and American Community Survey data.
States and metros where housing breaks the bank for working families
| State | Number of working households | With a severe housing cost burden in 2010 (housing exceeds 50% of income) |
| 1. California | 4.9 million | 34% |
| 2. Florida | 2.5 million | 33% |
| 3. New Jersey | 1.14 million | 32% |
| 4. Hawaii | 195,600 | 30% |
| 5. Nevada | 401,700 | 29% |
| U.S. national average | 45 million | 23.6% |
| 1. Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, Fla. | 714,000 | 43% |
| 2. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, Calif. | 1.68 million | 38% |
| 3. San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos, Calif. | 417,500 | 37% |
| 4. Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, Calif. | 496,000 | 34% |
| 5. New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, N.Y.-N.J.-Pa. | 2.6 million | 34% |
Source: The Center for Housing Policy, "Housing Landscape 2012."
* Working household defined as those with at least 20 hours per week employment and income not exceeding 120% of the area's median income.
* Severe housing-cost burden defined as spending more than half the household's gross income on housing costs, including utilities.
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But I can't pay the rent
Several MSN Real Estate readers have written to us about their struggles to make the rent. One is already more than two months behind. "What will happen?" they ask. What can they do?
The counselors at the Metropolitan Boston Housing Partnership get asked this every day, all day. "That's the main question we get here," Jordan says. "'I'm behind on my rent and I don't know what to do.'"
Here's what they tell people:
1. You have to find a way to pay the rent.
This isn't cold-hearted finger-waving. It's financial counseling aimed at preventing homelessness.
"The first thing I tell people is their goal is to have a sustainable income, and that's, of course, easier said than done," Jordan says. "You have to have a roof over your family's head."
Read: How can you save as a renter?
This can mean help in any number of areas: finding job opportunities and boosting income, prioritizing spending to ensure the rent can get paid first, finding emergency funding sources or locating available affordable housing.
"There are tools and resources out there; you just have to know how to find them," says Christopher Blagg, a spokesman for the partnership.
This can be as simple as making a few local phone calls. The housing coalition provides links to its outreach organizations in each state, and suggests calling an elected official in your area. Staff members at such places should be able to recommend local programs.
2. Talk to the landlord or management company.
Landlords have bills to pay, too. They'll be a lot more sympathetic if you tell them what's going on and demonstrate a commitment to pay. Having a tenant counselor contact the landlord about setting up a payment plan may be particularly helpful.
"When I talk to landlords, I find they're more receptive than I anticipated," Jordan says. "A lot of times when I tell a landlord that I'm providing support, they're sympathetic because they know that the tenant is making a good effort. These negotiations break down when the parties are afraid to talk to each other."
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3. Consider moving to affordable housing.
If continued downsizing just isn't possible, contact a local community development corporation for information on partially subsidized housing options. Be warned, though, there's a shortage of affordable housing and a long waiting list in most areas.
"It's not like affordable housing is going to come up as soon as the need is identified," Jordan says. "We talk about it as planning for the future. You want housing that is sustainable … you're allowing yourself choices in the future."
