Worst Case Housing Needs: 2017 Report to Congress

Book excerpt: This report covers the timeframe from 2013-2015 based on the American Housing Survey (AHS) data that is funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Census Bureau. This report provides national data and analysis of the critical problems facing low-income renting families. Households in this report are defined as very low-income renters who do not receive government housing assistance and who paid more than one-half their income for rent, lived in severely inadequate conditions or both. Contributing most to the increase in worst case needs between years 2013 and 2015 was a notable shift from home ownership to renting. Modest gains in household incomes were met with rising rents, shrinking supply of affordable housing stock in an increasingly competitive market. This data identifies a worst-case needs household as a family with two children, most often a minority family headed either by a single female or married couple. Municipal and state government personnel within the Housing Authority that offer affordable housing properties to its citizens may be most interested in this data. Additionally, rental property managers and builders, American citizens, policymakers, economic developers and advisors, and community planners may also find this research helpful to their strategic program needs. High school students and above may be interested in the statistical data that includes text, tables, charts representing this population and their needs for the basic necessity of housing to provide primary source materials for research reports and term papers. Related products: 2018 Healthy Homes Calendar available here: https://bookstore.gpo.gov/products/2018-health-homes-planner Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States, 2012 is available here: https://bookstore.gpo.gov/products/income-poverty-and-health-insurance-coverage-united-states-2012