Barriers to Affordable Housing

Publication Date: December 2009

Publisher: National Center for Policy Analysis (U.S.)

Author(s):

Research Area: Social conditions

Keywords: housing

Type: Brief

Abstract:

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) considers housing affordable if it costs less than 30 percent of a family's income. Yet, according to HUD, 12 million renters and homeowners spend more than 50 percent of their income on housing. Many of these are low-income individuals or families. But in some areas even middle-income families find the supply of affordable housing limited.