by Sarah Jawaid, National Housing Conference
The National Low Income Housing Coalition launched its Housing Spotlight briefs last week. These research publications will highlight issues facing the housing industry, such as “the shortage of affordable and available units faced by low income households, characteristics of the nation’s subsidized housing stock, and more.” The October 2011 issue, first in the series, utilizes 2010 American Community Survey (ACS) data to delve deeper into how renters fare in the housing market. It highlights that renters are facing decreasing incomes relative to increasing rents. Foreclosures and uncertainty about the housing market have pushed more households into rental, creating pressure on a rental stock that cannot expand quickly.
Further resources on this topic: The Center for Housing Policy’s Housing Landscape 2011 and Paycheck to Paycheck and the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies’ Rental Market Stresses.