The affordable housing crisis in Oregon continues to grow, and more resources are ... for affordable housing in Oregon i
Oregon Housing Needs The affordable housing crisis in Oregon continues to grow, and more resources are needed. Nearly all of the need for affordable housing in Oregon is concentrated among families with the extremely low incomes (ELI), not higherincome households:
1. For every 100 ELI families, there are just 22 apartments that are affordable and available to them, compared to 103 apartments for every 100 moderate-income families. Because of the significant deficit, many ELI families have no other option but to rent apartments that they cannot afford that would otherwise be available to moderate-income families. Building and preserving affordable housing targeted to ELI families would also benefit moderate-income families as the rental market becomes better aligned with the needs of the community.
2. 4 out of every 5 ELI families pay more than half their income on rent, compared to just 2% of moderateincome families. ELI families are far more likely to be severely cost burdened, paying more than half of their income on rent. These families are forced to make difficult choices between paying rent, buying groceries, or seeing a doctor. In worst cases, they are at risk of becoming homeless.
Apartments Affordable and Available for Every 100 Renter Households in Oregon by Income Group
22
Extremely Low Income (0-30% of AMI)
103
Moderate Income (0 -120% of AMI) Source: NLIHC tabulations of ACS 2014
Severely Cost-Burden Among Oregon Renter Households by Income Group
81%
Extremely Low Income (0-30% AMI)
Source: NLIHC tabulations of ACS 2014
2%
Moderate Income (81-120% AMI)
3. ELI families cannot afford to pay more than $480 a month in rent—$528 less than the fair market rent ($1,008). Median Income families can afford to pay $1,600 in rent. Median income families in Oregon earn more than $64,000 annually and can afford to pay up to $1,600 a month for rent without being cost burdened. This is nearly $600 more than the fair market rent for a typical two-bedroom apartment in the state ($1,008). ELI families earn $19,204 annually and can only afford to pay $480 for their monthly rent—$528 less than the fair market rent
4. Renters working full-time need to earn $19.38 an hour to afford a modest, twobedroom apartment—or 68 hours a week at minimum wage.
In urban, suburban, and rural communities in Oregon and across the nation, the housing wage is higher than what the typical renter earns. For more details on Oregon housing needs, see NLIHC’s State Housing Profile. For more information, contact Sarah Mickelson, NLIHC Policy Director at
[email protected] or by calling 202-662-1530, ext. 228.
1000 Vermont Avenue, NW | Suite 500 | Washington, DC 20005 | 202-662-1530 | www.nlihc.org
