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In 1993, 29% of U.S. households had one or more of three housing problems: physically inadequate housing, crowded housing, or housing that costs more than 30% of household income. Crowded housing is defined as housing in which there is more than one person per room. Crowded housing decreased from 4.1% in 1978 to 2.5% in 1993. Inadequate housing is defined as housing that has moderate or severe physical problems; this has also become less common, decreasing from 8.7% in 1978 to 6.4% in 1993. The percentage of houses with severe physical problems has also declined from 3.4% in 1978 to 2% in 1993.
Improvements in housing conditions have been accompanied by rising housing costs. Between 1978 and 1993, households paying more than 30% of their income for housing increased from 16% to 25%. The percentage of households with severe cost burdens--paying more than half of their income for housing--increased from 7% to 10%. The percentage of households with priority housing problems--those with severe cost burdens and/or severe physical problems--increased from 9% in 1978 to 11% in 1993. Renters are more likely than owners to experience housing problems. In 1993, 39% of renters had one or more housing problems, compared to 22.5% of owners; and renters were more than twice as likely as owners to have priority housing problems (i.e., severe cost burdens and/or severe physical problems).
This indicator reflects the current housing stock and its distribution--important factors in assessing human well-being today. It also provides some insights on the extent to which our children and grandchildren may be faced with housing issues, since the housing problems that are not solved today are passed on to the next generation.
Link(s) to national databases (also see section on Related Internet Links):
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http://www.sdi.gov/indicators/lc_hprob.htm Last Modified: May 13, 2002 |