No State Has Enough Affordable Housing for Low-Income Renters, but These 10 States Are the Worst

Even people who have a decent income may struggle paying rent. The affordability crisis is only worsening. High demand (due partly to the financial inability to buy a home), inventory shortage and a lack of new residential construction are major factors in the soaring costs of living. 

One proven solution to lessen the financial burden of renting is affordable housing, which the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development defines as housing for which the occupant is paying no more than 30% of their gross income for housing costs, including utilities.  

But affordable housing is hugely underfunded, meaning there’s not nearly enough to go around. This is a nationwide problem, but some states are particularly short on affordable housing. 

Let’s look at the worst states for low-income renters in need of affordable housing, according to research from the National Low Income Housing Coalition.

Also see where housing will no longer be affordable on just Social Security.

• Extremely Low-Income Renter Households: 237,903
• Number of Affordable and Available Rental Homes Per 100 Extremely Low-Income Renter Households: 28  
• Percentage of extremely low-income renter households with severe cost burden: 75%

• Extremely Low-Income Renter Households: 164,750
• Number of Affordable and Available Rental Homes Per 100 Extremely Low-Income Renter Households: 27  
• Percentage of extremely low-income renter households with severe cost burden: 76%

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• Extremely Low-Income Renter Households: 209,710  
• Number of Affordable and Available Rental Homes Per 100 Extremely Low-Income Renter Households: 34  
• Percentage of extremely low-income renter households with severe cost burden: 76%

• Extremely Low-Income Renter Households: 263,914 
• Number of Affordable and Available Rental Homes Per 100 Extremely Low-Income Renter Households: 30  
• Percentage of extremely low-income renter households with severe cost burden: 76%

• Extremely Low-Income Renter Households: 1,282,835
• Number of Affordable and Available Rental Homes Per 100 Extremely Low-Income Renter Households: 24  
• Percentage of extremely low-income renter households with severe cost burden: 77%

• Extremely Low-Income Renter Households: 325,237
• Number of Affordable and Available Rental Homes Per 100 Extremely Low-Income Renter Households: 34   
• Percentage of extremely low-income renter households with severe cost burden: 78%
• Percentage of extremely low-income renter households with severe cost burden: 77%

• Extremely Low-Income Renter Households: 138,104
• Number of Affordable and Available Rental Homes Per 100 Extremely Low-Income Renter Households: 26  
• Percentage of extremely low-income renter households with severe cost burden: 78%

• Extremely Low-Income Renter Households: 176,191  
• Number of Affordable and Available Rental Homes Per 100 Extremely Low-Income Renter Households: 24  
• Percentage of extremely low-income renter households with severe cost burden: 79%

• Extremely Low-Income Renter Households: 906,885
• Number of Affordable and Available Rental Homes Per 100 Extremely Low-Income Renter Households: 25 
• Percentage of extremely low-income renter households with severe cost burden: 79%

• Extremely Low-Income Renter Households: 583,625
• Number of Affordable and Available Rental Homes Per 100 Extremely Low-Income Renter Households: 25 
• Percentage of extremely low-income renter households with severe cost burden: 82%