Waiting in Vain: An Update on America's Rental Housing Crisis

摘要

This report updates the 1998 Report to Congress on Worst Case Housing Needs by211u001ereviewing new rental housing data from 1996 through 1998. Worst-case needs are 211u001eestimated from the American Housing Survey (AHS), which captures information 211u001eabout household character, condition, cost, income, and family composition. The 211u001ekey findings of this report are that (1) time spent on public housing and rental 211u001ehousing assistance waiting lists is increasing; (2) the number of families on 211u001ewaiting lists is increasing; and (3) low-income families and seniors have limited 211u001ehousing options. The report identifies four main factors that contribute to these 211u001efindings: (1) Rents are outpacing income for poor Americans; (2) affordable 211u001ehousing stock is consistently declining; (3) federal support for affordable 211u001ehousing has been cut; and (4) the expiration of project-based Section 8 subsidies 211u001eworsens the rental crisis. Despite the strength of the economy, the poorest 211u001erenters are still struggling to secure affordable housing and waiting in vain on 211u001elists for HUD-assisted housing.