Publications

This annual report explores severe housing cost burden among working households in the U.S. Drawing on the latest U.S. Census American Communities Survey data from 2008-2010, report author Laura Williams finds that nearly one in four working households in the U.S. spends more than half of its income on housing, and that this figure rose over the study period. Despite falling home values, housing affordability worsened significantly both for working owners and renters between 2008 and 2010.

This brief from the Center for Housing Policy describes efforts by some public housing authorities to help residents achieve economic security through efforts such as asset-building programs as including Family Self Sufficiency and Housing Choice Vouchers. With housing assistance currently available to only about one in four families who need it, and no prospects for increased federal funding on the horizon, many of these PHAs see economic security efforts as essential for expanding the number of families able to benefit from rental assistance. By helping families that currently receive housing assistance to make progress toward economic security, the PHAs that run these initiatives hope to free up rental assistance for other families.

This case study, one of three prepared by the Center for Housing Policy presented at the National Building Museum's How Housing Matters Conference, describes a program that uses secure and affordable housing to improve health outcomes and health care access for older adults.

This case study, one of three prepared by the Center for Housing Policy presented at the National Building Museum's How Housing Matters Conference, looks at how secure and affordable housing can provide a platform for children's educational success.

This case study, one of three prepared by the Center for Housing Policy presented at the National Building Museum's How Housing Matters Conference, describes a long-standing program that uses secure and affordable housing, provided through voucher assistance and public housing, to improve residents' economic opportunities.