America’s housing problems are moving up the income ladder. Despite unprecedented economic growth, one out of seven American households pays more than half of its income on housing or lives in a severely dilapidated unit. As documented in the June 2000 issue of New Century Housing, there are more than 14 million households with critical housing needs. Families who find themselves in this situation come from all walks of life. Twenty-seven percent are elderly, 30 percent are on welfare, and another 21 percent are households that are only marginally attached to the labor force. But the remaining 22 percent are working families earning more than the equivalent of a full time job at the minimum wage-and their numbers are increasing rapidly. The three million working families with severe housing needs defy the stereotypes that too often accompany discussions of housing policies. For example, half are homeowners. The number in the suburbs is roughly comparable to the number in the central cities. They include police officers, firefighters, and teachers, as well as service workers.