Housing Insecurity Nationwide?

On the eve of National Homeownership Month in June, the U.S. is grappling with a housing shortage and lack of affordable options that is keeping homeownership out of reach for a growing number of people. Rising rents are compounding the issue. People are working hard but wages are not keeping pace with the soaring costs to rent or buy a home.?The result is housing insecurity, which is a complex and pressing national challenge that impacts the potential of individuals, families, and communities. It is manifest in a wide range of experiences that includes evictions, foreclosures, and temporary living arrangements with family, friends, or at a shelter. Too many people, including children, end up in overcrowded and unsafe housing conditions. ??

I have come to understand this crisis more fully through the experiences of local United Ways that are deeply rooted in their communities and partnering across sectors to not only address the impact of housing insecurity but also tackle the root causes. They are finding solutions as quickly and as efficiently as their resources allow.?The United Way of Greater Kansas City is focused on long-term solutions in partnership with local government, social service agencies, and community partners. Since 2020, their Eviction Prevention Initiative has helped more than 3,000 households avoid the trauma of eviction by providing financial assistance and access to legal resources. In Burlington, North Carolina, United Way of Alamance County hosted Housing Alamance, an open space forum for tackling housing insecurity. Through 21 sessions the public and cross-sector leaders explored issues and actionable strategies for creating stable and affordable housing across the region. I am also thrilled at the recent announcement that Maui United Way and two Maui County nonprofit partner agencies were awarded funding to provide rental and mortgage assistance to residents in need. This year, Maui County qualified for additional funds dedicated to communities contending with disasters. Beyond these examples, United Ways nationwide are effectively working in partnership with local leadership and those directly impacted by housing instability to create sustainable solutions.??

We continue to see data that indicates housing instability is escalating. Through 211 , a United Way-supported network that connects people in need with vital services and resources, housing-related assistance is the number one request. United Way Worldwide has made this information available in the recently published 2023 211 Impact Survey which reports that 5.3 million of? 211’s referrals — 1 in 4 — connected people with help for housing.?The requests for assistance focused on a range of needs, including rental expense assistance, information on homeless shelters and drop-in centers, rental deposits, short-term motel vouchers, and legal support for evictions. This underscores the scope and complexity of housing insecurity, and our 211 data tells us it is a growing problem: housing referrals have more than doubled over the last six years.???

The affordable housing crisis is real, widespread, and continues to persist. The urgency and severity of this issue requires both immediate interventions and long-term strategies.?I stand committed to supporting solutions that advance equitable housing systems for those who need it most, including marginalized communities where legacies of discriminatory housing policies and laws, such as redlining, steering and blockbusting, prevented people from realizing the dream of homeownership. Everyone at every income level deserves to have a safe and stable place to call home, and United Way is committed to doing the work to see that this becomes a reality for all. If you would like to support those facing the impacts of housing insecurity, join our call for Congress to pass the HELP Act and ensure valuable services like 211 receive the funding needed to meet our neighbors’ most vital needs.?