People with the Lowest Incomes Just Don’t Earn Enough to Afford Housing

Housing Instability is Rising — And It’s No Surprise

As housing costs explode, wages and benefits have failed to keep pace, leaving millions vulnerable to homelessness. The poorest households are hit hardest, with housing becoming more unaffordable than ever.

Fixed Incomes Can’t Keep Up

For those relying on public assistance programs , housing is often out of reach. Even for lifelong workers relying on Social Security, these income supports simply aren’t enough to cover basic living expenses, forcing many into homelessness.

Participation in the workforce doesn’t mean housing is secure. Many people experiencing homelessness do work, but wages often fall short of what’s needed to afford housing.

Inconsistent Work = Housing Instability

Those with unpredictable employment — whether from unemployment, underemployment, or temporary work — often lack the steady income needed to maintain housing

Employment Discrimination Fuels Homelessness

Systemic discrimination keeps marginalized communities, particularly Black and undocumented workers, from stable employment, housing, and opportunities, decreasing their incomes and increasing their risk of homelessness.

Unprotected Workers Are Left Without Safety Nets

Many workers, especially those in informal sectors, lack access to unemployment benefits, leaving them without protection when they lose their jobs.

Public benefits programs for low incomes households are not only insufficient, but they are also incredibly difficult to access. Many people spend years waiting for benefits, remaining in poverty and at risk of homelessness.

Income assistance programs are difficult to access.

The process for accessing needed benefits is cumbersome and bureaucratic, involving long applications, extensive documentation requirements, appointments that take time away from working hours, and layers of federal and state requirements. This leads to eligible households being rejected for incomplete applications and discourages some families from applying at all.

The core assistance program for low-income families is serving fewer households.

The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program is designed to help low-income families with children achieve economic security and stability. These funds can be used for essential needs, such as food, shelter, clothing, and day care. Yet, this program served approximately one third as many households in 2020 as it did in 1996, leaving families trapped in poverty and housing insecurity.

Long wait times leave vulnerable people without financial support.

The Supplemental Security Income program provides needed monthly payments to people with limited income and resources who are blind, disabled, or age 65 or older. On average, new applicants that received a decision in November 2023 had waited more than seven months for that decision.