The term “affordable housing” is often used in a more general way — for example — when people refer to affordable housing as a need, such as when someone says “we need more affordable housing” or “I wish I could find affordable housing in the Bay Area.” The term is also used when local, state, and federal governments refer to housing that is “affordable” – that is, when a household pays no more than 30 percent of its income towards rent and utilities (for renters) or mortgage and associated costs of homeownership (for homeowners), such as insurance, homeowner association dues, and taxes. The latter definition is widely used by governments and recognizes that households have other essential expenses, including food, clothing, healthcare, childcare, and transportation. The term can also refer to housing that is targeted to households with low or moderate incomes by covenants, agreements, laws, or other enforceable mechanisms.