The topic of the affordability of homes in America is one that is flooded with data and analysis.
It will appear unbelievably complex if you read most of what’s out there.
We’re here to make it simple, because it is simple:
Every hard working American deserves a decent home.
And many, many people are not getting what they deserve.
In case you still want to dig deeper into this, what follows are the very best resources online.
Scroll down to explore. And enjoy!
RESOURCE #1:
An advocacy organization working on public policy to preserve and expand low-income housing
NLIHC releases this report annually, and it’s one of the best sources of information on rental housing in America. It has compelling maps and charts that make it easy to understand how bad the problem is in every part of the U.S.
This is NLIHC’s report on the housing needs of the nation’s lowest income households. It’s one step in the more complex / academic direction, but there’s a goldmine of information in here.
NLIHC calls this a “primer”, but it’s more like an encyclopedia. Everything you might want to know about federal affordable housing and community development programs, in a free 365-page PDF.
RESOURCE #2:
A nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization formed in 1931 to create policy solutions for affordable housing
NHC created this interactive tool that lets you explore which occupations pay enough to afford a 1 or 2 bedroom apartment, by region or nationwide.
RESOURCE #3:
A RESEARCH CENTER AT HARVARD UNIVERSITY FOCUSED ON HOUSING IN AMERICA.
This interactive map from Harvard JCHS shows how rental cost burdens vary across the country.
RESOURCE #4:
A source for academic research on legal and policy issues surrounding housing, land use and real estate in the U.S.
In this report, the Furman Center looks at the state of rental housing in America’s 11 largest metropolitan areas.
