flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

Study finds increase in cost-burdened renters

Multifamily Housing

Study finds increase in cost-burdened renters

Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies released its biennial rental housing report, and it found that 21.3 million renters spend 30% or more of income towards rent.


By BD+C Staff | December 14, 2015
Study finds increase in cost-burdened renters

Photo: Tom Ipri/Creative Commons

The 2015 report on rental housing from the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies has been released

The report, America’s Rental Housing: Expanding Options for Diverse and Growing Demand, found that 43 million families and individuals live in rental housing, which is 9 million more households than 2005. The rise is the largest 10-year gain on record. 

Renters continue to spend a larger portion of their income on rent. In 2014, 21.3 million renters were classified as cost burdened, meaning they spent more than 30% of their income on rent. In 2001, only 14.8 million individuals or families spent 30% or more on rent. Nearly 49% of renters are cost burdened, and 26% are categorized as severely cost burdened (paying more than half of income towards rent).  

“More families are renting and too many of them are struggling as supply fails to meet demand and stagnant incomes fail to keep up with rising rents,” said Julia Stasch, President of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, in a statement. “The affordability of rental housing is a critical national issue that deserves more attention and more action from policymakers."

Related Stories

Building Materials | Mar 3, 2020

84 Lumber President Maggie Hardy Knox receives Career Achievement Award

Maggie Hardy Knox, President of 84 Lumber and Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, to receive Career Achievement Award.

Multifamily Housing | Feb 26, 2020

School districts in California are stepping in to provide affordable housing for faculty and staff

One high school district in Daly City has broken ground on 122-apartment building.

Multifamily Housing | Feb 23, 2020

A post-storm Puerto Rico reconsiders how and what to rebuild

Federal help means tougher code enforcement. And will this island of homeowners embrace renting?

| Feb 17, 2020

Interior designers weigh in on outdoor kitchens

Designers weigh in on outdoor kitchens

Multifamily Housing | Feb 12, 2020

4 products for your next multifamily project

These new products can help improve any new multifamily project.

Mixed-Use | Feb 7, 2020

Rising to the occasion

Roof deck entertainment spaces are popular amenities that present engineering and code complexities.

Multifamily Housing | Jan 31, 2020

Higher-income renters continue to drive what’s getting built and leased in the multifamily sector

Nearly half of all renters are “cost burdened,” according to the latest Joint Center for Housing Studies report.

Multifamily Housing | Jan 20, 2020

U.S. multifamily market posted solid gains in 2019

Rents grew 3% for the year, according to Yardi Matrix.

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category




Legislation

Efforts to encourage more housing projects on California coast stall

A movement to encourage more housing projects along the California coast has stalled out in the California legislature. Earlier this year, lawmakers, with the backing of some housing activists, introduced a series of bills aimed at making it easier to build apartments and accessory dwelling units along California’s highly regulated coast. 

halfpage1

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021