The Gap Press Contact and Kit

Please complete the information below to receive press updates on NLIHC's The Gap: A Shortage of Affordable Homes.

The press kit (.zip file) contains images from The Gap that can be used online or in print. Permission to reprint all or some of the images is granted, provided appropriate credit is given to the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC). All images are copyright of NLIHC.

For questions regarding media coverage and reprints, please contact Jen Butler, Senior Director, Media Relations and Communications, [email protected], 202-662-1530 x239.

Images from The Gap 2022

Individual graphics are available below or download all the graphics in English and Spanish (coming soon) (.zip files).

Figure 1

Renters and Rental Units in the U.S.

Chart of renters and rental units in the U.S., matched by income and affordability categories. Renters with extremely low incomes face an absolute shortage of affordable rental homes.

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Figure 2

Affordable and Available Rental Homes per 100 Renter Households

Chart showing affordable and available rental homes per 100 renter households at extremely low income, 50% of Area Median Income (AMI), 80% of AMI, and 100% of AMI.

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Figure 3

Renter Households and Affordable & Available Rental Homes

Cumulative total of renter households and affordable and available rental homes at increasingly higher levels of income. The gap shrinks, and eventually disappears, higher up the income ladder.

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Figure 4

Incremental Change to Surplus (Deficit) of Affordable and Available Rental Homes

Extremely low-income renters account for most of the shortage of affordable and available rental homes.

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Figure 5

Housing Cost Burdens by Income

Extremely low-income renters account for the largest numbers of cost-burdened and severely cost-burdened renters.

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Figure 6

Severely Housing Cost-Burdened Renters

Renters with extremely low incomes account for most severely cost-burdened renters in the U.S.

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Figure 7

Affordable and Available Rental Homes

Map showing the number of affordable and available rental homes for every 100 extremely low-income renter households by state. No state has an adequate supply.

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Figure 8

HUD Assistance and Housing Cost Burdens

Metro areas with a greater share of rental housing that is HUD-assisted have a lower share of extremely low-income renters who are severely cost-burdened.

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Figure 9

Who are Extremely Low-Income Renters?

Forty-eight percent of extremely low-income renter households are seniors or people with disabilities and another 36% are in the labor force.

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Figure 10

Income Distribution of Renters by Race and Ethnicity

American Indian, Black, and Hispanic renters are more likely than white renters to have extremely low incomes.

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Figure 11

Renter Household Cost Burdens by Race and Ethnicity

Renter households of color are more likely to be housing cost-burdened or severely housing cost-burdened than white renter households.

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Figure 12

Cost Burdens Among Extremely Low-Income Renters by Race and Ethnicity

Racial and ethnic disparities in housing cost burdens tend to be less pronounced among the lowest-income renter households. American Indians and Alaska Natives are less likely to be cost-burdened, but are more likely than others to live in over-crowded or physically inadequate housing.

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Figure 13

Renter Households Behind on Rent (Millions)

Millions of renter households continue to report being behind on rent, though fewer households were behind in March 2022 than at the peak in January 2021.

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Figure 15

Changes in Funding Levels For Key HUD Programs (FY 2010 to FY 2022)

After adjusting for inflation, funding for most key HUD programs declined between FY 2010 and FY 2022.

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infographic

Solving the Gap

We need significant and sustained federal investments in the national Housing Trust Fund, public housing, and the preservation of the existing affordable housing stock; expansion of the Housing Choice Voucher program to all eligible households; a National Housing Stabilization Fund to prevent evictions and homelessness; and stronger renter protections to help families stay stably housed.

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