Smiling man and woman in front of a house.

Why housing affordability?

Stable housing — housing that is safe, healthy and affordable — is foundational to individuals and families, to the communities in which we live and to the economies in which we all participate.

Increased family stability and economic mobility, a greater sense of dignity and civic pride, stronger and more vibrant communities that can attract and keep business and manufacturing — these are all connected to stable, decent, affordable housing.

Why is advocating for home affordability important?

Housing costs should be no more than 30% of household income. But millions in the U.S. struggle daily with housing costs. 1 in 3 families pay more than 30% of their income on housing costs. 1 in 6 families pay half or more on housing — a level deemed “severely cost-burdened.”

That’s 40.6 million cost-burdened homeowners and renters who are forced to choose between paying for housing or paying for necessities such as food, healthcare or transportation.

It is critical to address issues of home affordability at scale and this is why housing policies are so vital.

Explore the map below to find out more about housing affordability where you live, and join us in advocating for policies that ensure everyone has access to a safe, decent and affordable place to live.

Housing affordability by state

Select a state to learn about the need for home affordability in that state.

Share this page on your:

The impact of housing affordability on families

Bringing housing costs to an affordable level can make all the difference in the life and future of a family — physically, mentally, economically, developmentally.

Housing affordability and communities

From the abundance of economic benefits to a greater sense of community pride, increasing home affordability is foundational to the health of communities across the country.

The impact of housing affordability on the economy

These experts break down how high housing costs undermine the type of competitive business environment essential to strong, vibrant communities.

Black and white photo of an American flag.

Historic housing discrimination in the U.S.

Too many among the general public aren’t aware that the egregious racial disparities in America that exist today — in education, employment, health and wealth — are linked to Black families’ exclusion from accessing decent and affordable shelter – something we all need to thrive.

Over the shoulder shot of someone viewing a graph on a computer

Urban institute report on policy successes

The Urban Institute examined Cost of Home policy successes and published a full report with evidence of the measurable transformation in home affordability led by the campaign in its first four years.

See the report

4 key takeaways from the 2023 State of the Nation’s Housing report

We’ve rounded up four key takeaways from the full report, which provides valuable data on the current U.S. housing market. This report was released by Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies and proudly sponsored by Habitat.

Learn more