Photos: Alina Simone

40% of Houston renter households are unable to afford the rent for a modest two bedroom apartment.

Affordability

54% of large family renters pay more than half of their income to rent an apartment in Houston. Source: 1995 Consolidated Plan. City of Houston, Texas. The typical monthly rent for a two bedroom apartment in Houston is $601. Source: Out of Reach. National Low Income Housing Coalition. 1999. A full-time Houston wage earner would have to earn $11.56 per hour to afford a typical two bedroom apartment. Source: Out of Reach. National Low Income Housing Coalition. 1999. 40% of Houston renter households are unable to afford the rent for a modest two bedroom apartment. Source: Out of Reach. National Low Income Housing Coalition. 1999.

Housing Shortage

The current waiting list for low rent public housing in Houston is 9,512. Source: 1995 Consolidated Plan. City of Houston, Texas. Among major metropolitan areas, Houston ranks third lowest in subsidized housing per capita. Source: Compiled from In Search of Shelter: The Growing Shortage of Affordable Housing. Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, Washington D.C. 1998.

Substandard Housing

72,299 housing units in Houston are considered to be overcrowded. Source: 1995 Consolidated Plan. City of Houston, Texas An estimated 27,000 poor Houston renters live in substandard housing. Source: In Search of Shelter: The Growing Shortage of Affordable Housing. Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, Washington D.C. 1998.