7 States Where It’s Almost Impossible for Low-Income Families To Afford Housing

Housing affordability is a huge issue many Americans face, and the situation is particularly dire for extremely low-income families — defined as households with incomes at or below either the federal poverty guideline or 30% of their area median income, whichever is greater. Across the US, there is currently a shortage of 7.3 million rental homes that are affordable and available to renters with extremely low incomes, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC).

While each state has a deficit of available housing for extremely low-income families, the situation is particularly distressing in these seven states, as identified by the NLIHC.

Also here is the salary you need to afford the average home in your state.

• Number of affordable and available rental homes: 14 per 100 extremely low-income renter households
• Extremely low-income renter households: 91,243
• Extremely low-income renter households with severe cost burden: 86%

• Number of affordable and available rental homes: 24 per 100 extremely low-income renter households
• Extremely low-income renter households: 176,191
• Extremely low-income renter households with severe cost burden: 79%

• Number of affordable and available rental homes: 24 per 100 extremely low-income renter households
• Extremely low-income renter households: 1,282,835
• Extremely low-income renter households with severe cost burden: 77%

• Number of affordable and available rental homes: 25 per 100 extremely low-income renter households
• Extremely low-income renter households: 906,885
• Extremely low-income renter households with severe cost burden: 79%

• Number of affordable and available rental homes: 25 per 100 extremely low-income renter households
• Extremely low-income renter households: 19,545
• Extremely low-income renter households with severe cost burden: 64%

• Number of affordable and available rental homes: 25 per 100 extremely low-income renter households
• Extremely low-income renter households: 583,625
• Extremely low-income renter households with severe cost burden: 82%

• Number of affordable and available rental homes: 26 per 100 extremely low-income renter households
• Extremely low-income renter households: 138,104
• Extremely low-income renter households with severe cost burden: 78%

Editor’s note: Data is sourced from the National Low Income Housing Coalition and is accurate as of 2022.