New collaborative research from Housing Navigator Massachusetts, Inc. and the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) found a gap of 441,000 low-income households from Cape Cod to the Berkshires without access to an affordable rental home, showing that the current supply of affordable rentals serves just 32% of low-income households.
In every region across the Commonwealth, at least two-thirds of low-income households lack access to an income-restricted unit and rely on the market for housing. The report describes these households as “unstably housed,” because their reliance on market-rate housing (including naturally occurring affordable housing) leaves them at risk of eviction, cost-burden, overcrowding, and other unsafe housing conditions.
“Having the data means we finally understand the scale of the problem,” said MAPC Executive Director Marc Draisen. “Building more market-rate units is key, but if market-rate is all we build, we will never serve the people who need housing the most. That’s why expanding the supply of truly affordable housing is critical.”
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