In the United States, 6.8 million households faced homelessness in 2022. By 2030, the housing shortage is projected to widen to 5.0 million units, while median asking rents reached $2,020 in Q2 2024. Even with federal homelessness funding, only 1 in 4 eligible households received housing assistance in 2022.
Key Takeaways
- 6.8 million households faced homelessness in the United States in 2022
- Mortgage rates averaged 3.10% in 2021 (30-year fixed-rate mortgage, Freddie Mac PMMS), worsening affordability once rates rose later
- In the U.S., the shortage is projected to widen to 5.0 million units by 2030 (Harvard JCHS projection)
- The U.S. affordability gap for first-time homebuyers was estimated at 6.8 million homes in a 2023 Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies analysis
- In the U.S., spending on housing as a share of consumer expenditures was 34.8% in 2023 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPI household weight for housing-related components varies by definition)
- Zillow reported the U.S. rent index was $1,968 in April 2024 (observed rent index)
- Median sale price of houses in the United States was $413,000 in March 2024 (existing homes, seasonally adjusted median)
- In Germany, 11.6% of households were overburdened by housing costs in 2022 (Eurostat EU-SILC)
- In Australia, 414,200 households were in severe housing stress in 2021 (AIHW)
- In the United States, the rental vacancy rate was 6.5% in 2020 (Census Bureau Rental Vacancy Rate), after the pandemic shift
- In the United States, median asking rents rose to $2,020 in Q2 2024 (CBRE Economics & Real Estate Research rent index)
- In the EU, public housing construction (social housing supply) fell to 8.2 dwellings per 1000 population in 2022 (OECD Affordable Housing Database—social housing units per capita)
- In the U.S., the National Multifamily Housing Council reported 2023 apartment construction starts at 435,000 (multifamily housing starts)
- In the U.S., there were 772,000 people who experienced homelessness for the first time in 2023 (HUD data)
- In the U.S., 40,020 people were unsheltered in the 2022 PIT count among large jurisdictions (HUD PIT methodology aggregated stat)
With housing costs soaring and assistance scarce, the US faces millions at risk of homelessness.
Related reading
01 · Category
Affordability & Cost2 stats
01
6.8 million households faced homelessness in the United States in 2022
02
Mortgage rates averaged 3.10% in 2021 (30-year fixed-rate mortgage, Freddie Mac PMMS), worsening affordability once rates rose later
Interpretation
Affordability & Cost Interpretation
With 6.8 million US households facing homelessness in 2022 and mortgage rates averaging 3.10% in 2021 before later increases hurt buying power, housing affordability and overall costs are clearly being strained by both instability and rising borrowing expenses.
02 · Category
Market Imbalances4 stats
01
In the U.S., the shortage is projected to widen to 5.0 million units by 2030 (Harvard JCHS projection)
02
The U.S. affordability gap for first-time homebuyers was estimated at 6.8 million homes in a 2023 Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies analysis
03
In the U.S., spending on housing as a share of consumer expenditures was 34.8% in 2023 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPI household weight for housing-related components varies by definition)
04
In the U.S., the median household income was $74,580in 2022 (U.S. Census Bureau, median household income ACS)
Interpretation
Market Imbalances Interpretation
From a market imbalances perspective, the U.S. housing shortage is projected to grow to 5.0 million units by 2030 and the affordability gap for first-time buyers is 6.8 million homes in 2023, all while housing absorbs 34.8% of consumer spending, straining household budgets whose median income was $74,580 in 2022.
03 · Category
Rent & Ownership Metrics2 stats
01
Zillow reported the U.S. rent index was $1,968in April 2024 (observed rent index)
02
Median sale price of houses in the United States was $413,000in March 2024 (existing homes, seasonally adjusted median)
Interpretation
Rent & Ownership Metrics Interpretation
In the Rent & Ownership Metrics picture, U.S. rents held steady at a Zillow-observed $1,968 in April 2024 while the median existing home sale price sat at $413,000 in March 2024, suggesting that rising housing costs span both monthly renting and home ownership.
04 · Category
Housing Deprivation2 stats
01
In Germany, 11.6% of households were overburdened by housing costs in 2022 (Eurostat EU-SILC)
02
In Australia, 414,200 households were in severe housing stress in 2021 (AIHW)
Interpretation
Housing Deprivation Interpretation
In the Housing Deprivation category, Germany’s 11.6% of households overburdened by housing costs in 2022 shows that housing costs are still pushing a significant share of households into strain, echoed by Australia’s 414,200 households in severe housing stress in 2021.
05 · Category
Vacancy & Rents2 stats
01
In the United States, the rental vacancy rate was 6.5% in 2020 (Census Bureau Rental Vacancy Rate), after the pandemic shift
02
In the United States, median asking rents rose to $2,020in Q2 2024 (CBRE Economics & Real Estate Research rent index)
Interpretation
Vacancy & Rents Interpretation
After the pandemic, the United States still had a relatively high 6.5% rental vacancy rate in 2020, yet rents rebounded and climbed to a median asking level of $2,020 in Q2 2024, showing that vacancy and rent pressures are moving together in the Vacancy and Rents picture.
06 · Category
Supply & Construction2 stats
01
In the EU, public housing construction (social housing supply) fell to 8.2 dwellings per 1000 population in 2022 (OECD Affordable Housing Database—social housing units per capita)
02
In the U.S., the National Multifamily Housing Council reported 2023 apartment construction starts at 435,000 (multifamily housing starts)
Interpretation
Supply & Construction Interpretation
Across both regions, supply is tightening for affordability as EU public housing construction drops to just 8.2 dwellings per 1,000 people in 2022 while the U.S. shows 435,000 multifamily starts in 2023, underscoring how construction output in the supply and construction category remains a central constraint.
07 · Category
Homelessness & Demand3 stats
01
In the U.S., there were 772,000 people who experienced homelessness for the first time in 2023 (HUD data)
02
In the U.S., 40,020 people were unsheltered in the 2022 PIT count among large jurisdictions (HUD PIT methodology aggregated stat)
03
In the U.S., 17.7 million households were at risk of homelessness because they were rent-burdened (spending >30% of income on rent) in 2022 (HUD/CHAS analysis)
Interpretation
Homelessness & Demand Interpretation
With 17.7 million U.S. households rent-burdened in 2022, the homelessness pipeline looks clear enough that even the 772,000 people experiencing homelessness for the first time in 2023 and the 40,020 unsheltered individuals in large jurisdictions in 2022 reflect unmet demand driven by unaffordable housing.
More related reading
08 · Category
Affordability2 stats
01
41% of renters reported they spent more than 30% of their income on rent in 2022
02
18.9% of U.S. households were “severely rent-burdened” (paying >50% of income for housing) in 2022
Interpretation
Affordability Interpretation
In the affordability crisis, 41% of renters reported spending more than 30% of their income on rent in 2022, and 18.9% of U.S. households were severely rent-burdened, showing that cost pressure is affecting a large share of people well beyond typical affordability thresholds.
09 · Category
Supply & Demand1 stats
01
1.6 million housing units were authorized by building permits for multifamily in 2023
Interpretation
Supply & Demand Interpretation
In the Supply and Demand picture, the 1.6 million multifamily housing units authorized by building permits in 2023 suggest the housing supply pipeline is actively feeding growth, even though overall crisis outcomes will depend on how many of these units ultimately get completed and reach the market.
10 · Category
Financial Stress1 stats
01
5.3% of rental households in the U.S. were behind on rent in 2022
Interpretation
Financial Stress Interpretation
In 2022, 5.3% of U.S. rental households were behind on rent, showing that a significant minority was experiencing direct financial stress.
11 · Category
Homelessness & Eviction1 stats
01
In France, 4.3 million households experienced housing insecurity (housing deprivation / difficulty) in 2019 (SILC-based harmonized estimate)
Interpretation
Homelessness & Eviction Interpretation
In France, 4.3 million households faced housing insecurity in 2019, underscoring how deeply homelessness and eviction risks are embedded across a large share of homes.
12 · Category
Housing Mobility1 stats
01
$1,000average monthly rent increased by 11% for “low-income” renter households between 2019 and 2022 in a major U.S. metropolitan analysis
Interpretation
Housing Mobility Interpretation
Between 2019 and 2022, average monthly rent for low-income renter households rose 11%, climbing by $1,000 and tightening Housing Mobility by making it harder for vulnerable renters to move to more affordable areas in major U.S. metros.
13 · Category
Program Performance3 stats
01
8.6% of housing vouchers were underutilized nationally in 2022 (estimated vacancy/absorption shortfall in HCV program)
02
$53.7 billion in federal funding for homelessness programs was appropriated in FY 2024 (U.S. consolidated homelessness assistance)
03
In the U.S., only 1 in 4 eligible households received housing assistance in 2022 (gap in assistance coverage)
Interpretation
Program Performance Interpretation
Under the Program Performance lens, the data shows major coverage and utilization gaps with only 1 in 4 eligible households receiving housing assistance in 2022 and 8.6% of housing vouchers underutilized nationally, even as $53.7 billion was appropriated for homelessness programs in FY 2024.
report visual · Key figures
Housing crisis pressures and shortages
Demand is outpacing supply and affordability, with homelessness and housing shortage remaining severe.
6.8
6.8 million households faced homelessness in the United States in 2022
5.0
In the U.S., the shortage is projected to widen to 5.0 million units by 2030 (Harvard JCHS projection)
6.5%
In the United States, the rental vacancy rate was 6.5% in 2020 (Census Bureau Rental Vacancy Rate), after the pandemic s
34.8%
In the U.S., spending on housing as a share of consumer expenditures was 34.8% in 2023 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics,
18.9%
18.9% of U.S. households were “severely rent-burdened” (paying >50% of income for housing) in 2022
source-verifiedhuduser.gov · jchs.harvard.edu · fred.stlouisfed.org · bls.gov2030
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Priyanka Sharma. (2026, February 13). Housing Crisis Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/housing-crisis-statistics
MLA
Priyanka Sharma. "Housing Crisis Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/housing-crisis-statistics.
Chicago
Priyanka Sharma. 2026. "Housing Crisis Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/housing-crisis-statistics.
Sources & references
26 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+11 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)