New reports focused on Davenport, Moline and Rock Island found a need for more affordable, safe housing.
City councils of each of the three cities heard presentations this month on two reports that analyzed the housing needs and challenges preventing people from having fair access to decent, affordable housing in the cities of Davenport, Moline and Rock Island.
The reports are required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for all communities across the country that receive certain federal funding for housing programs. Both reports are done every five years and are intended to provide data and analysis for cities’ five-year plans required for the use of Community Development Block Grants and HOME Investment Partnership.
The reports use information gathered in public input sessions, nationally available datasets such as the census and local documents such as building permits and zoning information.
People are also reading…
- Quad-Cities area school weather delays for Thursday, Feb. 13
- Orion High School teacher, Venezuelan native could be deported mid-school year
- 'Divine intervention' helped Cedar Falls native get into coaching, back to Iowa women's hoops
- 3 Takeaways from Iowa women’s basketball: Dear NCAA selection committee …
![041323-qc-nws-davcd005.JPG](https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/65/365e679a-096e-5059-870a-b9426237f14a/6439b72b581eb.image.jpg?resize=150%2C100 150w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/65/365e679a-096e-5059-870a-b9426237f14a/6439b72b581eb.image.jpg?resize=200%2C133 200w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/65/365e679a-096e-5059-870a-b9426237f14a/6439b72b581eb.image.jpg?resize=225%2C150 225w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/65/365e679a-096e-5059-870a-b9426237f14a/6439b72b581eb.image.jpg?resize=300%2C200 300w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/65/365e679a-096e-5059-870a-b9426237f14a/6439b72b581eb.image.jpg?resize=400%2C267 400w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/65/365e679a-096e-5059-870a-b9426237f14a/6439b72b581eb.image.jpg?resize=540%2C360 540w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/65/365e679a-096e-5059-870a-b9426237f14a/6439b72b581eb.image.jpg?resize=640%2C427 640w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/65/365e679a-096e-5059-870a-b9426237f14a/6439b72b581eb.image.jpg?resize=750%2C500 750w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/65/365e679a-096e-5059-870a-b9426237f14a/6439b72b581eb.image.jpg?resize=990%2C660 990w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/65/365e679a-096e-5059-870a-b9426237f14a/6439b72b581eb.image.jpg?resize=1035%2C690 1035w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/65/365e679a-096e-5059-870a-b9426237f14a/6439b72b581eb.image.jpg?resize=1200%2C800 1200w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/65/365e679a-096e-5059-870a-b9426237f14a/6439b72b581eb.image.jpg?resize=1333%2C888 1333w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/65/365e679a-096e-5059-870a-b9426237f14a/6439b72b581eb.image.jpg?resize=1476%2C984 1476w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/65/365e679a-096e-5059-870a-b9426237f14a/6439b72b581eb.image.jpg 2008w)
A central Davenport property is undergoing renovation as part of the Urban Homestead program, a program the city administrates with federal Community Development Block Grants and HOME funds. The house, at 1413 W. 13th Street, Davenport, was a stop on a community development tour Wednesday April 13, 2023.
![070623-qc-nws-homestead.JPG](https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/1/2f/12f28746-af9f-5f9e-8254-08ccce0857f5/64a7124791ada.image.jpg?resize=150%2C100 150w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/1/2f/12f28746-af9f-5f9e-8254-08ccce0857f5/64a7124791ada.image.jpg?resize=200%2C133 200w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/1/2f/12f28746-af9f-5f9e-8254-08ccce0857f5/64a7124791ada.image.jpg?resize=225%2C150 225w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/1/2f/12f28746-af9f-5f9e-8254-08ccce0857f5/64a7124791ada.image.jpg?resize=300%2C200 300w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/1/2f/12f28746-af9f-5f9e-8254-08ccce0857f5/64a7124791ada.image.jpg?resize=400%2C267 400w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/1/2f/12f28746-af9f-5f9e-8254-08ccce0857f5/64a7124791ada.image.jpg?resize=540%2C360 540w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/1/2f/12f28746-af9f-5f9e-8254-08ccce0857f5/64a7124791ada.image.jpg?resize=640%2C427 640w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/1/2f/12f28746-af9f-5f9e-8254-08ccce0857f5/64a7124791ada.image.jpg?resize=750%2C500 750w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/1/2f/12f28746-af9f-5f9e-8254-08ccce0857f5/64a7124791ada.image.jpg?resize=990%2C660 990w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/1/2f/12f28746-af9f-5f9e-8254-08ccce0857f5/64a7124791ada.image.jpg?resize=1035%2C690 1035w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/1/2f/12f28746-af9f-5f9e-8254-08ccce0857f5/64a7124791ada.image.jpg?resize=1200%2C800 1200w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/1/2f/12f28746-af9f-5f9e-8254-08ccce0857f5/64a7124791ada.image.jpg?resize=1333%2C888 1333w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/1/2f/12f28746-af9f-5f9e-8254-08ccce0857f5/64a7124791ada.image.jpg?resize=1476%2C984 1476w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/1/2f/12f28746-af9f-5f9e-8254-08ccce0857f5/64a7124791ada.image.jpg 2008w)
Prospective home buyers this weekend can tour a house, 1413 W. 13th St., Davenport, which was renovated as part of a city Urban Homestead program that rebuilds or renovates homes to be sold to moderate-income families. The three-bedroom home is seen Thursday, July 6, 2023.
![083123-qc-nws-homesteadtour-028](https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/8/c3/8c3e0b01-32fc-594d-b626-01976a339cc9/64f0fab5001ee.image.jpg?resize=150%2C100 150w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/8/c3/8c3e0b01-32fc-594d-b626-01976a339cc9/64f0fab5001ee.image.jpg?resize=200%2C133 200w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/8/c3/8c3e0b01-32fc-594d-b626-01976a339cc9/64f0fab5001ee.image.jpg?resize=225%2C150 225w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/8/c3/8c3e0b01-32fc-594d-b626-01976a339cc9/64f0fab5001ee.image.jpg?resize=300%2C200 300w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/8/c3/8c3e0b01-32fc-594d-b626-01976a339cc9/64f0fab5001ee.image.jpg?resize=400%2C267 400w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/8/c3/8c3e0b01-32fc-594d-b626-01976a339cc9/64f0fab5001ee.image.jpg?resize=540%2C360 540w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/8/c3/8c3e0b01-32fc-594d-b626-01976a339cc9/64f0fab5001ee.image.jpg?resize=640%2C427 640w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/8/c3/8c3e0b01-32fc-594d-b626-01976a339cc9/64f0fab5001ee.image.jpg?resize=750%2C500 750w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/8/c3/8c3e0b01-32fc-594d-b626-01976a339cc9/64f0fab5001ee.image.jpg?resize=990%2C660 990w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/8/c3/8c3e0b01-32fc-594d-b626-01976a339cc9/64f0fab5001ee.image.jpg?resize=1035%2C690 1035w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/8/c3/8c3e0b01-32fc-594d-b626-01976a339cc9/64f0fab5001ee.image.jpg?resize=1200%2C800 1200w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/8/c3/8c3e0b01-32fc-594d-b626-01976a339cc9/64f0fab5001ee.image.jpg?resize=1333%2C888 1333w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/8/c3/8c3e0b01-32fc-594d-b626-01976a339cc9/64f0fab5001ee.image.jpg?resize=1476%2C984 1476w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/8/c3/8c3e0b01-32fc-594d-b626-01976a339cc9/64f0fab5001ee.image.jpg 2008w)
The City of Rock Island hosted an open house showing the renovation of an abandoned property as part of the City’s Homestead Program. The public was able to view the house at 1830 32nd St., on Thursday, Aug. 31. The two-bedroom, one-bathroom house, built in 1923, was purchased by the City at tax auction for $909. Using funds from the Housing and Urban Development Department (HUD) and Illinois Housing Development Authority (IDHA), the City’s Community and Economic Development Department spent $148,000 to gut and completely renovate the interior, install a new roof, new siding, lead-free pipes, high efficiency air system, water heater and landscaping.
The Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice, done by Mosaic Community Planning, focuses on the challenges faced by members of protected classes in finding decent, affordable housing of their choice. The Housing Needs Assessment is focused on the quantity, quality and availability of affordable housing for low- and moderate-income residents. The cities hired Points Consulting, an Idaho firm to do that report.
“In general what this process does every five years or so is it allows cities to have some expert eyes, fresh eyes that work in the fair housing real, work in looking at housing needs in multiple communities across the country and tell us things you see that we might be able to do to improve upon,” Davenport Community and Economic Development Director Bruce Berger said.
“The value that this kind of analysis does is it gets the community talking about what are ways that we could improve? Improve on housing, improve on impediments that are currently a barrier for people who are looking for housing,” Berger added.
Report: Insufficient access to affordable housing in the Quad-Cities
The Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice report found that in the three cities, the need for affordable housing has continued to grow.
Housing and Urban Development defines affordable housing as housing that costs no more than 30% of a household’s total monthly gross income.
“The persistent housing and affordability crisis, which was noted in the 2019 (Analysis of Impediments), has continued to grow in Moline, Davenport and Rock Island, and was the most common issue mentioned by stakeholders and community members in focus groups, public forums, and interviews,” the report states.
Residents who participated in surveys, interviews and input sessions described poor building and unit conditions with limited oversight. The conditions include aging buildings with mold, pests and even structural risks, which were amplified by the deadly apartment building collapse in downtown Davenport in 2023, the report states.
Residents described additional barriers to finding adequate housing for large families, people with past evictions, people with disabilities and people reentering society after time in prison. Data presented in the report found that affordability issues are more acute for households of color than for white households.
The report found the Quad-Cities continues to need to expand the supply of affordable housing available in all three cities, and improve or maintaining existing affordable housing units.
The report also described housing as intertwined with access to public transportation, good schools and employment opportunities.
Long wait times for public housing
Wait times for publicly supported housing units in Moline, Davenport and Rock Island range from eight months to 39 months, according to the Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice report.
“These extremely long wait times, particularly for Housing Choice Vouchers, indicate that demand for housing assistance far exceeds supply in all three cities,” the report states.
Housing Choice Vouchers, formerly called Section 8 vouchers, is a federally-funded, locally-administered housing assistance program for low-income families, the elderly and the disabled.
Participants choose housing that meets requirements of the program, and a housing subsidy is paid to the landlord directly by the local public housing authority on behalf of the family. The family then pays the difference between actual rent and the amount subsidized by the program, according to HUD.
In Rock Island, housing choice voucher wait times are 17 months on average, according to the report, but only three-quarters of available vouchers are being used.
“This indicates that voucher holders are experiencing some form of barrier to using vouchers once approved, such as an inability to find a landlord who accepts vouchers,” the report states.
In all three cities, publicly supported housing is geographically clustered to some extent, the report states. Davenport has the least clustering, which the report states is likely because of a higher prevalence of Housing Choice Vouchers. Rock Island has the most clustering. The report recommended continuing outreach to landlords to encourage greater acceptance of the vouchers.
How many housing units are needed?
The Housing Needs Assessment report done by Points Consulting calculated how many overall housing units each city would need in the next 20 years based on different paces of growth.
Points Consulting’s report found the city of Davenport experienced a gradual but steady population increase from 2010 to 2024, growing from 98,300 to 102,400 residents. The cities of Moline and Rock Island, however, have had fluctuating populations that overall have decreased. In all three cities, the population of residents older than 60 years has increased while the population of people ages 0-30 has decreased, according to the report.
If Davenport keeps its current growth, the city will need about 4,490 more units in the next 20 years. With optimistic growth, the city would need 8,706 more units.
For Rock Island, the range is between 11 and 3,702 more units in the next two decades.
For Moline, Points Consulting’s report states if the city keeps its current trend, it will need 1,130 fewer housing units than it has. For optimistic growth, it would need 4,380 new units in the next five years.
Home value and rent cost trends
Home values and rents have risen in the Quad-Cities in the past five years, according to the Housing Needs Assessment report, though not as much in fast-growing U.S. markets.
Between 2020 and 2024, home values increased by 21% in Davenport and 19% in Moline and Rock Island.
A key challenge in the single-family housing market, according to the report, is the increase in construction costs, with the data analyzed by the authors of the report indicating a local cost of $139 per square foot.
In the past two years, according to the report, Davenport, Moline, and Rock Island issued 260, 10, and three single-family home permits, respectively, compared to 294, 27 and seven permits in the two years preceding the pandemic.
Rental costs have also increased between 2020 and 2023. According to the report, rent for one-bedroom units increased 15%, 8% and 7% in Davenport, Moline, and Rock Island, respectively.
In Davenport, Moline, and Rock Island, 44%, 45% and 46% of rental households pay more than 30% of their income on housing, respectively, according to the report. That's the point at which they are considered to be cost-burdened.
The age and condition of housing stock is also a major concern. In the community survey conducted by the authors of the report, 54% of respondents identified "blight” or “housing conditions” as a primary issue. While the median construction year for rental housing in the U.S. is 1979, in Davenport it is 1973, in Moline it is 1963 and in Rock Island it is 1956, according to the report.
There is also vacant housing stock in the three cities. While bringing vacant units back online would help alleviate cities' needs for new housing, the authors of the report told the Davenport City Council in a recent meeting, it would not meet all of the demand.
In 2024 about 3% of Moline’s housing stock was vacant. Davenport’s is 5% and Rock Island's vacant housing stock is highest of the three at 7%, according to the report.
![083123-qc-nws-homesteadtour-032](https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/0/12/012028b4-6b17-5c30-ba22-f9856db86a1a/64f0fabb96077.image.jpg?resize=150%2C100 150w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/0/12/012028b4-6b17-5c30-ba22-f9856db86a1a/64f0fabb96077.image.jpg?resize=200%2C133 200w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/0/12/012028b4-6b17-5c30-ba22-f9856db86a1a/64f0fabb96077.image.jpg?resize=225%2C150 225w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/0/12/012028b4-6b17-5c30-ba22-f9856db86a1a/64f0fabb96077.image.jpg?resize=300%2C200 300w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/0/12/012028b4-6b17-5c30-ba22-f9856db86a1a/64f0fabb96077.image.jpg?resize=400%2C267 400w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/0/12/012028b4-6b17-5c30-ba22-f9856db86a1a/64f0fabb96077.image.jpg?resize=540%2C360 540w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/0/12/012028b4-6b17-5c30-ba22-f9856db86a1a/64f0fabb96077.image.jpg?resize=640%2C427 640w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/0/12/012028b4-6b17-5c30-ba22-f9856db86a1a/64f0fabb96077.image.jpg?resize=750%2C500 750w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/0/12/012028b4-6b17-5c30-ba22-f9856db86a1a/64f0fabb96077.image.jpg?resize=990%2C660 990w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/0/12/012028b4-6b17-5c30-ba22-f9856db86a1a/64f0fabb96077.image.jpg?resize=1035%2C690 1035w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/0/12/012028b4-6b17-5c30-ba22-f9856db86a1a/64f0fabb96077.image.jpg?resize=1200%2C800 1200w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/0/12/012028b4-6b17-5c30-ba22-f9856db86a1a/64f0fabb96077.image.jpg?resize=1333%2C888 1333w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/0/12/012028b4-6b17-5c30-ba22-f9856db86a1a/64f0fabb96077.image.jpg?resize=1476%2C984 1476w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/0/12/012028b4-6b17-5c30-ba22-f9856db86a1a/64f0fabb96077.image.jpg 2008w)
One of the two bedrooms at the renovated house at 1830 32nd street in Rock Island. City of Rock Island hosted an open house showing the renovation of an abandoned property as part of the City’s Homestead Program. The public was able to view the house at 1830 32nd St., on Thursday, Aug. 31. The two-bedroom, one-bathroom house, built in 1923, was purchased by the City at tax auction for $909. Using funds from the Housing and Urban Development Department (HUD) and Illinois Housing Development Authority (IDHA), the City’s Community and Economic Development Department spent $148,000 to gut and completely renovate the interior, install a new roof, new siding, lead-free pipes, high efficiency air system, water heater and landscaping.
U.S. mortgage rates increased this week, reaching their highest levels since July, with the 30-year fixed rate climbing by six basis points to nearly 6.9%. A year ago, the rate was 6.62%. The average 15-year fixed rate rose by thirteen basis points to over 6% compared to nearly 5.8% a year earlier. Freddie Mac’s chief economist, Sam Khater, noted affordability challenges persist, but rising pending home sales suggest renewed buyer activity. Rates are being influenced by elevated bond yields and the Federal Reserve’s stance on controlling inflation, which remains above the 2% target.
Half of renters pay more than 30% of their income on shelter amid worsening affordable housing shortage
Half of renters pay more than 30% of their income on shelter amid worsening affordable housing shortage
![Half of renters pay more than 30% of their income on shelter amid worsening affordable housing shortage](https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/86/28697780-0ad0-51f1-8035-71585a7232b0/6760928ded1b5.image.jpg?resize=150%2C107 150w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/86/28697780-0ad0-51f1-8035-71585a7232b0/6760928ded1b5.image.jpg?resize=200%2C143 200w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/86/28697780-0ad0-51f1-8035-71585a7232b0/6760928ded1b5.image.jpg?resize=225%2C160 225w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/86/28697780-0ad0-51f1-8035-71585a7232b0/6760928ded1b5.image.jpg?resize=300%2C214 300w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/86/28697780-0ad0-51f1-8035-71585a7232b0/6760928ded1b5.image.jpg?resize=400%2C285 400w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/86/28697780-0ad0-51f1-8035-71585a7232b0/6760928ded1b5.image.jpg?resize=540%2C385 540w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/86/28697780-0ad0-51f1-8035-71585a7232b0/6760928ded1b5.image.jpg?resize=640%2C456 640w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/86/28697780-0ad0-51f1-8035-71585a7232b0/6760928ded1b5.image.jpg?resize=750%2C535 750w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/86/28697780-0ad0-51f1-8035-71585a7232b0/6760928ded1b5.image.jpg?resize=990%2C706 990w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/86/28697780-0ad0-51f1-8035-71585a7232b0/6760928ded1b5.image.jpg 1035w)
The portion of Americans contributing more than a third of their income to rent has been rising for the past two decades, and today, it sits at around half of all renters, according to recently released Census data collected in 2023.
Since 2021, the cost of housing has been one of the most persistent and potent forces driving a rising cost of living around the nation. Even as the rate of price increases has neared previous norms, the remaining upward pressure on inflation is almost entirely made up of housing cost increases, according to the White House Council of Economic Advisers.
Netspend analyzed the latest Census data to illustrate the portion of renters in every state considered rent-burdened, paying more than 30% of their income toward rent. Rent-burdened residents are now found in large numbers not only in high-cost-of-living states like California but also in states like Nevada and Florida.
The percentage of the renting population that was rent-burdened grew from 40% to nearly 50% between 2000 and 2020. Almost half of all households, at 49%, were rent-burdened in 2023, according to the latest housing data released by the Census in September. Harvard's Joint Center for Housing Studies noted in a report published earlier this year that the rent-burdened population in the U.S. was at a record high.
Not only do high rents make it difficult for low-income renters to afford other necessities like utility costs, food, and clothing, but it also makes building wealth even more difficult. For instance, a renter hoping to save money to purchase their first home—an asset that can be passed down through generations of family members—may struggle to set aside enough money as the cost of rent rises.
The National Low Income Housing Coalition tracks the availability of affordable housing available to low-income renter households. It found that the amount of housing that low-income renters can afford declined nationwide from 2019 to 2022, and that the trend has the biggest impact on extremely low-income Americans—a majority of whom live with disabilities, are caretakers for someone else, or are older adults.
Rental markets in Texas, Florida, long thought of as affordable, are costly for residents
![Rental markets in Texas, Florida, long thought of as affordable, are costly for residents](https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/df/4df672b8-d654-5f91-8d66-30f2159bbc60/6760928e4dd23.image.png?resize=150%2C150 150w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/df/4df672b8-d654-5f91-8d66-30f2159bbc60/6760928e4dd23.image.png?resize=200%2C200 200w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/df/4df672b8-d654-5f91-8d66-30f2159bbc60/6760928e4dd23.image.png?resize=225%2C225 225w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/df/4df672b8-d654-5f91-8d66-30f2159bbc60/6760928e4dd23.image.png?resize=300%2C300 300w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/df/4df672b8-d654-5f91-8d66-30f2159bbc60/6760928e4dd23.image.png?resize=400%2C400 400w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/df/4df672b8-d654-5f91-8d66-30f2159bbc60/6760928e4dd23.image.png?resize=540%2C540 540w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/df/4df672b8-d654-5f91-8d66-30f2159bbc60/6760928e4dd23.image.png?resize=640%2C640 640w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/df/4df672b8-d654-5f91-8d66-30f2159bbc60/6760928e4dd23.image.png?resize=750%2C750 750w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/df/4df672b8-d654-5f91-8d66-30f2159bbc60/6760928e4dd23.image.png?resize=990%2C990 990w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/df/4df672b8-d654-5f91-8d66-30f2159bbc60/6760928e4dd23.image.png?resize=1035%2C1035 1035w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/df/4df672b8-d654-5f91-8d66-30f2159bbc60/6760928e4dd23.image.png 1200w)
States with high costs of living, like California, New York, and Maryland, are more likely to have rent-burdened populations. However, other states long thought to have comparably affordable housing markets also had high percentages of cost-burdened renters in 2023.
California's housing crisis began spilling into neighboring Nevada as Golden State dwellers started flocking to Silver State communities in the mid-2000s. Home prices in Nevada skyrocketed due to increased demand, just like California incomes, which were about 93% higher than those of Nevada residents moving within the state, according to a 2024 paper by Lied Center for Real Estate at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
The cost of rent in the state also went up, increasing by 34% between 2019 and 2023, according to a 2024 report from Zillow. Coupled with wage growth that didn't keep up with rental increases from 2019 to 2023, renters have been left feeling squeezed and disillusioned about the prospects of owning a home.
The unsustainable demand for housing hasn't only made homeownership out of reach—it's also kept rental costs much higher than low-income renters can reasonably afford. Florida, California, and Hawai'i also had above-average-sized populations of rent-burdened residents in 2023.
Black renters shoulder highest burdens
![Black renters shoulder highest burdens](https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/7/73/77387f94-7bc5-5b0e-83d3-774ce3c3c038/6760928f23797.image.png?resize=150%2C126 150w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/7/73/77387f94-7bc5-5b0e-83d3-774ce3c3c038/6760928f23797.image.png?resize=200%2C168 200w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/7/73/77387f94-7bc5-5b0e-83d3-774ce3c3c038/6760928f23797.image.png?resize=225%2C189 225w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/7/73/77387f94-7bc5-5b0e-83d3-774ce3c3c038/6760928f23797.image.png?resize=300%2C252 300w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/7/73/77387f94-7bc5-5b0e-83d3-774ce3c3c038/6760928f23797.image.png?resize=400%2C336 400w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/7/73/77387f94-7bc5-5b0e-83d3-774ce3c3c038/6760928f23797.image.png?resize=540%2C453 540w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/7/73/77387f94-7bc5-5b0e-83d3-774ce3c3c038/6760928f23797.image.png?resize=640%2C537 640w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/7/73/77387f94-7bc5-5b0e-83d3-774ce3c3c038/6760928f23797.image.png?resize=750%2C629 750w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/7/73/77387f94-7bc5-5b0e-83d3-774ce3c3c038/6760928f23797.image.png?resize=990%2C831 990w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/7/73/77387f94-7bc5-5b0e-83d3-774ce3c3c038/6760928f23797.image.png?resize=1035%2C868 1035w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/qctimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/7/73/77387f94-7bc5-5b0e-83d3-774ce3c3c038/6760928f23797.image.png 1200w)
Not all renters experience the same pressure on household budgets. Renters of white and Asian descent are less likely to be rent-burdened. Households led by Black, Hispanic or Latino, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and American Indian or Alaska Native individuals experience the highest rates.
As more of the overall renting population has grown rent-burdened since 2000, the disparities experienced by Black and Hispanic or Latino renters in comparison to white renters have held, according to historical Census data. Rent burden is more likely to impact households earning less than middle income, a demographic that has long been disproportionately made up of Black and Hispanic people.
Organizations like the NLIHC have championed solutions to the rental housing affordability crisis that would increase the supply of affordable rental housing and establish new rental assistance programs. However, the latest portrait of pinched renter households painted by Census data comes at the same time as historic levels of assistance for renters offered during the COVID-19 pandemic ended. By the end of 2023, more than 90% of states had closed their programs, which provided $46.5 billion in collective aid to keep people housed during the public health crisis.
Story editing by Carren Jao. Additional editing by Elisa Huang. Copy editing by Kristen Wegrzyn.
This story originally appeared on Netspend and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.