a Data are available for 1978, 1983, 1989, and biennially since 1993. All data are weighted using the decennial Census that preceded the date of their collection. Because of questionnaire changes, data since 1997 on families with rental assistance, priority problems, and severe physical problems are not directly comparable with earlier data. See Office of Policy Development and Research, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. (2003). Trends in worst case needs for housing, 1978–1999: A report to Congress on worst case housing needs–Plus update on worst case needs in 2001. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. |
b Inadequate housing refers to housing with "moderate or severe physical problems." The most common problems meeting the definition are lacking complete plumbing for exclusive use, having unvented room heaters as the primary heating equipment, and multiple upkeep problems such as water leakage, open cracks or holes, broken plaster, or signs of rats. See definition in Appendix A of the American Housing Survey summary volume, American Housing Survey for the United States: 2005, Current Housing Reports, Series H150/05, U.S. Census Bureau, 2006. |
c Cost burden refers to expenditures on housing and utilities that exceed the specified proportion, 30 percent or 50 percent, of reported income. |
d Severe problems: For households not reporting housing assistance, cost burden is greater than 50 percent of income or severe physical problems are present. |
e Very-low-income households are those with incomes at or below one-half the median income, adjusted for family size, in a geographic area. |
f Renters are either in a public housing project or have a subsidy (i.e., pay a lower rent because a Federal, State, or local government program pays part of the cost of construction, mortgage, or operating expenses). |
SOURCE: U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, American Housing Survey. Tabulated by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. |