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Worst Case Housing Needs Report

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February 17, 2015  

Worst Case Housing Needs Report

HUD has released Worst Case Housing Needs 2015: A Report to Congress – Executive Summary. This report, part of a long-standing series, measures critical housing problems faced by American renter families. HUD defines the term "worst case needs" as very low-income households who do not receive housing assistance and who either pay more than half their monthly income for rent, or live in severely substandard housing, or both. In 2013, there were 7.7 million worst case needs households — a significant drop from the previous record high of 8.5 million in 2011, but nearly 50 percent higher than in 2003.

Key Findings

  • Worst case housing needs declined by 9% between 2011 and 2013, yet the figure remained 9% greater than in 2009 and 49% greater than in 2003.

  • The vast majority (97%) of worst case housing needs resulted from a severe rent burden — paying more than half of income for rent. Inadequate housing caused only 3% of worst case needs.
  • Low-income renters from all racial and ethnic groups are affected by worst case needs. During 2013, the prevalence of worst case needs among such renters was 44% for non-Hispanic Whites and Hispanics, 35% for non-Hispanic Blacks, and 42% for others.
  • All types of households experience worst case needs. In 2013, 2.8 million families with children, 1.5 million elderly households without children, 2.7 million other "nonfamily" households (unrelated people sharing housing), and 0.7 million "other family" households experienced worst case needs.
  • A decline in the number of very low-income renters who lack housing assistance — the group at risk of experiencing worst case needs — explains about 600,000 cases of the 800,000 reduction in worst case needs from 2011 to 2013.

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