California’s Housing Affordability Crisis Hits Renters and Households With the Lowest Incomes the Hardest

Unaffordable housing costs are one of California’s most pressing challenges. The high cost of housing is one of the primary drivers of California’s high poverty rate – ranked first among the 50 states – under the Supplemental Poverty Measure, which accounts for differences in the local cost of living. The lack of affordable housing increases economic insecurity among California families and also creates challenges for California employers striving to retain and recruit workers.

Housing affordability is a problem throughout the state when housing costs are compared to incomes, and the Californians who are most affected by the housing affordability crisis are renters and households with the lowest incomes. Policy solutions that particularly target these households represent a promising approach to tackling the state’s housing crisis strategically, with a focus on those most deeply affected.

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