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Numbers in the text and tables of this report may not add to totals because of rounding. Cover: Photo at bottom left by UPI/Bettmann; photos at top left and right courtesy of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. |
The federal government helps low-income renters meet their housing needs through a variety of programs and policies. But tight budgets and questions about the effectiveness of the current system in dealing with those needs have brought calls for a better understanding of the nation's housing situation. In response to a request from the Senate Committee on the Budget, this study explores the housing and economic conditions of low-income renters and examines how those conditions differ for recipients of federal housing aid and nonrecipients. In accordance with the Congressional Budget Office's (CBO's) mandate to provide objective, impartial analysis, the study contains no recommendations.
Carla Pedone of CBO's Health and Human Resources Division prepared the study under the direction of Nancy Gordon and Bruce Vavrichek. Computer support was provided by Eric Guille. Several people outside of CBO, including Stuart M. Butler, Jill Khadduri, Edgar O. Olsen, and John C. Weicher, offered useful comments on earlier drafts. Within CBO, James Baumgardner, Debbie Clay-Mendez, Julia Jacobsen, and Brent Shipp provided valuable assistance. CBO gratefully acknowledges the cooperation and assistance of the Bureau of the Census in making available a confidential version of the 1989 American Housing Survey without compromising the privacy of individual households.
Leah Mazade edited the text of the study, and Christian Spoor provided
editorial and production assistance. Sharon Corbin-Jallow prepared drafts
of the manuscript. Kathryn Quattrone prepared the study for publication.
Robert D. Reischauer
Director
December 1994
SUMMARY
ONE - INTRODUCTION
TWO - TRENDS IN AFFORDABILITY OF RENTAL HOUSING
THREE - THE CHARACTERISTICS OF SUBSIDIZED AND UNSUBSIDIZED RENTERS AND THEIR HOUSING
FOUR - POLICY IMPLICATIONS
APPENDIXES
A- Supplementary Tables to Chapter One
B - Supplementary Tables to Chapter Two
C - Supplementary Tables to Chapter Three
| TABLES | |
| S-1. | Subsidized and Unsubsidized Renters, by Demographic Group and Priority for Housing Assistance, 1989 |
| S-2. | Average Annual Income and Monthly Housing Costs of Subsidized and Unsubsidized Renters, by Demographic Group and Priority for Housing Assistance, 1989 |
| 1. | Estimated Cost of Preserving the Stock of Assisted Rental Housing, by Type of Program, End of Fiscal Year 1994 |
| 2. | Units Occupied by Relatively Poor Renters and Units Potentially Affordable to Them, by Household Income of the Actual Occupant and Location, 1991 |
| 3. | Relatively Poor Renters Living in Potentially Affordable and Unaffordable Units, by Share of Income Paid for Rent, 1991 |
| 4. | Subsidized and Unsubsidized Renter Households, by Demographic Group and Priority for Housing Assistance, 1989 |
| 5. | Characteristics of Householders in Subsidized and Unsubsidized Renter Households, by Priority for Housing Assistance, 1989 |
| 6. | Average Annual Income and Monthly Housing Costs of Subsidized and Unsubsidized Renter Households, by Demographic Group and Priority for Housing Assistance, 1989 |
| 7. | Percentage of Subsidized and Unsubsidized Renter Households That Moved into Their Current Units During the Past 12 Months, by Demographic Group and Priority for Housing Assistance, 1989 |
| 8. | Subsidized and Unsubsidized Very Low Income Renter Households, by Demographic Group and Type of Subsidy or Rent Level, 1989 |
| A-1. | Number of Households Receiving Rental Housing Aid and Outlays for That Aid, Fiscal Years 1977-1994 |
| A-2. | Budget Authority for Rental Housing Aid, by Type of Aid, Fiscal Years 1977-1995 |
| A-3. | Annual Commitments of Rental Housing Aid, by Type of Aid, Fiscal Years 1977-1995 |
| B-1. | Median Household and Median Family Income of Renters, by Household Size, 1975-1991 |
| B-2. | Trends in Real Gross Rent and Real Household Income of Renters at Various Levels of Their Rent and Income Distributions, 1975-1991 |
| B-3. | Trends in Actual Median Gross Rent and Gross Rent for a 1975 Constant-Quality Unit, With and Without Adjusting for Depreciation, 1975-1991 |
| B-4. | Trends in Income of Renters, by Data Source, Definition of Income, and Level of Their Income Distribution, 1975-1991 |
| B-5. | Trends in Income of Homeowners, by Data Source, Definition of Income, and Level of Their Income Distribution, 1975-1991 |
| C-1. | Subsidized and Unsubsidized Renters, by Demographic Group and Priority for Housing Assistance, 1989 |
| C-2. | Percentage of Subsidized and Unsubsidized Renters with Housing Problems, by Problem and Priority for Housing Assistance, 1989 |
| C-3. | Percentage of Subsidized and Unsubsidized Renters with Housing Problems, by Demographic Group and Priority for Housing Assistance, 1989 |
| C-4. | Percentage of Subsidized and Unsubsidized Renters with Physically Inadequate Housing, by Demographic Group and Priority for Housing Assistance, 1989 |
| C-5. | Percentage of Subsidized and Unsubsidized Renters Dissatisfied with Their Neighborhoods or Housing Conditions, by Demographic Group and Priority for Housing Assistance, 1989 |
| C-6. | Subsidized and Unsubsidized Renters, by Type of Subsidy or Rent Level and Priority for Housing Assistance, 1989 |
| C-7. | Subsidized and Unsubsidized Very Low Income Renters, by Demographic Group and Type of Subsidy or Rent Level, 1989 |
| C-8. | Percentage of Subsidized and Unsubsidized Very Low Income Renters with Physically Inadequate Housing, by Demographic Group and Type of Subsidy or Rent Level, 1989 |
| C-9. | Percentage of Subsidized and Unsubsidized Very Low Income Renters Dissatisfied with Their Neighborhoods or Housing Conditions, by Demographic Group and Type of Subsidy or Rent Level, 1989 |
| FIGURES | |
| S-1. | Shortfall of Units Affordable to Renters in the Bottom Quarter of Their Income Distribution, 1975-1991 |
| S-2. | Percentage of Subsidized and Unsubsidized Renters with Housing Problems, by Priority for Housing Assistance, 1989 |
| S-3. | Percentage of Subsidized and Unsubsidized Renters Dissatisfied with Their Neighborhoods or Housing Conditions, by Priority for Housing Assistance, 1989 |
| 1. | Illustrative Patterns in Budget Authority and Outlays to Provide Housing Aid to One Household for 10 Years Through a Voucher or by Building a Public Housing Unit |
| 2. | Number of Households Receiving Rental Housing Aid, End of Fiscal Years 1977-1994 |
| 3. | Outlays for Rental Housing Aid, Fiscal Years 1977-1994 |
| 4. | Budget Authority for Rental Housing Aid, by Type of Aid, Fiscal Years 1977-1995 |
| 5. | Annual Commitments of Rental Housing Aid, by Type, Fiscal Years 1977-1995 |
| 6. | Renters' Median Family Income as a Percentage of Their Median Household Income, by Size of Household, 1975-1991 |
| 7. | Rent as a Percentage of Household Income of Renters, by Income Level, 1975-1991 |
| 8. | Shortfall of Units Affordable to Renters in the Bottom Quarter of Their Income Distribution, 1975-1991 |
| 9. | Trends in Real Gross Rent for Units with Rents at Various Levels of the Rent Distribution, 1975-1991 |
| 10. | Trends in Real Household Income of Renters at Various Levels of the Income Distribution, 1975-1991 |
| 11. | Actual Median Gross Rent and Gross Rent for a 1975 Constant-Quality Unit, Adjusted for Inflation, 1975-1991 |
| 12. | Real Household Income of Renters and Homeowners, by Income Level, 1975-1991 |
| 13. | Renters' Household Income as a Percentage of Homeowners' Household Income, by Income Level, 1975-1991 |
| 14. | Change in the Shortfall of Units Affordable to Renters in the Bottom Quarter of Their Income Distribution Under Two Scenarios, 1975-1991 |
| 15. | Shortfall of Units Affordable to Renters in the Bottom Quarter of Their Income Distribution, With and Without Subsidized Units, 1975-1991 |
| 16. | Percentage of Affordable Units That Are Subsidized, 1975-1991 |
| 17. | Percentage of Subsidized and Unsubsidized Renters with Housing Problems, by Demographic Group and Priority for Housing Assistance, 1989 |
| 18. | Percentage of Subsidized and Unsubsidized Renters with Physically Inadequate Housing, by Demographic Group and Priority for Housing Assistance, 1989 |
| 19. | Percentage of Subsidized and Unsubsidized Renters Dissatisfied with Their Neighborhoods or Housing Conditions, by Demographic Group and Priority for Housing Assistance, 1989 |
| 20. | Percentage of Subsidized and Unsubsidized Very Low Income Renters with Physically Inadequate Housing, by Demographic Group and Type of Subsidy or Rent Level, 1989 |
| 21. | Percentage of Subsidized and Unsubsidized Very Low Income Renters Dissatisfied with Their Neighborhoods or Housing Conditions, by Demographic Group and Type of Subsidy or Rent Level, 1989 |
| BOXES | |
| 1. | Types of Rental Housing Assistance |
| 2. | Definitions of Objectively Measured Housing Problems |
| 3. | Definitions of Household Groups Based on Their Priority for Rental Housing Assistance |
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