The number of people with worst-case housing needs has reached a
record level. Nearly 8.5 million families were in this group in
2011, an increase of 2.57 million households since 2007—a
staggering 43.5 percent hike, reports the Department of Housing
and Urban Development (HUD). "Worst-case housing needs" are
defined as renters with very low incomes (below half the median
in their area) who do not receive government housing assistance
and who either paid more than half their monthly incomes for
rent, lived in severely substandard conditions, or both. It is
clear that the worst case is getting worse. "These sobering
numbers remind us that as we work to craft a balanced approach
to our budget and priorities, we can't lose sight of those who
may be teetering on the brink of homelessness," said HUD
Secretary Shaun Donovan. "Clearly, the economic downturn that
we're recovering from put tremendous stress on lower-income
families who continue to be crowded out of the affordable
housing marketplace. Today's report is