Unfortunately, finding decent, secure and affordable rental housing is increasingly difficult for many North Carolinians. In recent years wages have stagnated while rents have continued to climb, resulting in a sharp increase in the number of cost–burdened rental house-holds at risk of being unable to afford other necessities such as food and clothing. The purpose of this study is to identify locations in North Carolina with extreme housing needs, defined as having relatively high percent-
ages of at least two of the following three housing conditions: severe cost burden (households paying more than 50 percent of their income for rent), overcrowding (rental units inhabited by more than one person per room) and substandard conditions (rental units that lack complete kitchen and/or bathroom facilities).