There simply isn’t enough affordable housing to meet the immense need. According to the National Association of Home Builders, the median price for a single-family house reached a record high of over $412,000 last year. And the National Low-Income Housing Coalition calculates that there’s a national shortage of 7 million affordable rental units.
Wages simply aren’t keeping up with housing costs. There’s currently no city in the country where you can afford a market-rate two-bedroom rental on the minimum wage. And a record 75 percent of renters are severely cost burdened, meaning over half their income goes to housing.
Living unhoused is nonstop stress. I had to move from hotel to hotel, chasing Priceline deals and spiking my stress levels. Unsurprisingly, there are many adverse health outcomes associated with housing insecurity, including delayed access to health care, worsening health outcomes, and erosion of communities.
I managed to get a remote contract job, but I lost it when I couldn’t begin the same month I was evicted. Thankfully, a sorority sister eventually offered me a room in her lovely home.
Currently, I’m OK. I have housing, Medicaid, and a client too. For now. But I’m more acutely aware than ever that we need more tenant rights and landlord accountability. And I still need to pay renters’ insurance, car insurance, business fees, storage fees, and so on, and jump through increasing red tape to keep my benefits.
Homelessness and housing instability are expensive — for individuals and for governments. And the problem could get worse. President Trump has called for more devastating cuts to public housing programs, including a nearly $30 billion cut in federal rental aid and Section 8 housing vouchers.
What should we do instead?
Currently, a proposed federal law would offer funding for legal counsel for low-income renters facing eviction. Many states now have laws that prohibit evictions without just cause, laws that prohibit excessive rent increases, and prevent landlords from discriminating against renters with Section 8 vouchers, and fund rental assistance.
Research shows that policies like these significantly increase housing stability.
I grew up in an income-stable home, earned a Ph.D., and own a small business. If someone like me can get trapped in the cycle of housing instability, anyone can. But the solutions are out there — we just need lawmakers to hear us.
This piece was originally published on our sister site OtherWords.org.