The National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) released its annual report, The Gap: A Shortage of Affordable Homes, on March 13, 2025. The report identifies a national shortage of 7.1 million affordable and available rental homes for extremely low-income (ELI) renters. This means that there are only 35 affordable and available rental homes for every 100 extremely low-income renter household, nationwide.
This report provides a detailed analysis of the severe shortage of affordable rental housing available for ELI renters in the United States. Below is a breakdown of the key findings.
- No state or major metropolitan area has an adequate supply of affordable housing for ELI renters.
- Nevada has the most severe shortage, with just 17 affordable and available homes per 100 ELI renter households, while North Dakota has the least severe shortage at 62 homes per 100 households.
- In total, 41 out of the largest 50 metropolitan areas have fewer than 35 affordable and available units per 100 ELI renters, reflecting widespread inadequacy across urban centers.
- 18% of Black households, 17% of American Indian/Alaska Native households, and 13% of Latino households fall into the ELI category compared to 6% of white non-Latino households.
Recommendations from the Report
- National Housing Trust Fund: To build, preserve, rehabilitate, and operate deeply affordable housing.
- Housing Choice Vouchers: To bridge the gap between what ELI renters can afford and market rents.
- Public Housing Investments: To expand public housing stock nationwide.
- Emergency rental assistance programs to help families facing short-term financial hardships.
- Local zoning reforms to reduce barriers to building new affordable housing units.
Author: Ericka Cameron-Carr
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