WASHINGTON, D.C. – The state of affordable rentals in Connecticut worsened in 2023 for the majority of those seeking such living accommodations while there was a slight improvement for those with extremely low income, according to a recent report from the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC).
As for New York state, there were slight improvements in the shortage of housing for those most in need of affordable rentals while the number of such rentals per 100 dropped slightly.
The annual report, The Gap: A Shortage of Affordable Homes, details the severe shortage of affordable rental homes available to families and individuals with different income levels nationwide and in every state and major metropolitan area.
In Connecticut, the report showed there was a deficit, or shortage, of 94,446 affordable rentals for extremely low-income residents compared to a shortage of 98,144 in 2022. As for those at or below 50% of the area median income (AMI), the deficit was 106,945 compared to a shortage of 86,371 in 2022.
In New York, the report showed the deficit for extremely low-income residents in 2023 was 631,177 vs. 666,960 in 2022. The shortage for those earning 50% of the AMI was 702,599 compared to 711,403 in 2022.
The 2023 report also reported there were 141,158 of extremely low-income renter households in Connecticut, which decreased from 149,475 in 2022. The number of affordable and available rental homes was 46,712 compared to 51,331 in 2022.The number of affordable rental homes per 100 dipped slightly to 33 in 2023 from 34. And the percentage of extremely low renter households with severe cost burdens fell to 73% from 83% in 2002.
In New York, there were 981,949 extremely low-income renter households compared to 1,004,253 in 2022. The number of affordable and available rental homes was 350,772 in 2023 compared to 337,293 in 2022.
Nationwide, this year’s report finds that the lowest-income renters face a shortage of 7.1 million affordable and available rental homes with only 35 affordable and available homes for every 100 extremely low-income renter households. As a result of this shortage, three-quarters of renters with extremely low incomes are severely cost-burdened, spending more than half of their income on rent.
The report’s findings come amid unprecedented attempts to cut federal housing assistance programs.
“This year’s report demonstrates that renters with the lowest incomes continue to face a dire shortage of affordable housing options nationwide,” NLIHC Interim President and CEO Renee Willis.
She described the Trump administration’s attempts to cut funding for such Americans as “attacks” on those communities.
“Our neighbors who are seniors, people with disabilities, or those with low wages are most severely impacted. Proposals to cut funding for the housing programs that serve our neighbors most in need or dismantle the institutions that serve them are nothing short of attacks on our communities.
“Our country needs bipartisan leadership to address the housing crisis – a crisis spanning both Republican and Democratic administrations – not ideologically driven assaults on seniors, people with disabilities, and low-wage workers struggling with housing instability.”
States with the most severe shortages – Nevada, Oregon, California, Arizona, and Texas – have fewer than 30 affordable rental homes available for every 100 extremely low-income renters. Nevada has just 17. Even states with the least severe shortages face significant shortfalls. North Dakota, which has the least severe shortage, has only 62 rental homes affordable and available for every 100 extremely low-income renters. All 50 of the largest metropolitan areas also have a shortage of affordable and available rentals for the lowest-income renters.
Further, the amount that extremely low-income renters can afford to pay for rent does not cover the development and operating costs of new housing and is often insufficient to provide an incentive for landlords to maintain older housing.
Subsidies are needed to produce new affordable housing, preserve existing affordable housing, and subsidize the difference between what the lowest-income renters can afford to pay and market rents, Willis said.
The 2025 Gap report concludes that the private market fails to adequately serve renters with extremely low incomes and that current federal funding for housing assistance is insufficient. “Congress must make sustained, bipartisan investments in deeply income-targeted programs such as the national Housing Trust Fund, Housing Choice Vouchers, and public housing to address this significant gap in affordable rental housing for the lowest-income renters,” according to a NLIHC press release.
