Affordable Housing & Housing Security (Homelessness)

Affordable housing refers to housing that is deemed affordable to individuals or families with a median household income or lower. The general guideline, often used by governments and housing organizations, is that housing is considered affordable when a household spends no more than 30% of its gross income on housing costs, including rent or mortgage payments, utilities, and maintenance. Affordable housing aims to provide safe, adequate, and accessible living conditions for people who might otherwise be unable to afford market-rate housing.

Housing security refers to the stability and sustainability of an individual or household's living situation, ensuring that they have consistent, safe, and adequate housing. Housing security is the opposite of homelessness, which is the condition of lacking a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. Homelessness can be temporary, episodic, or chronic, and it includes individuals living on the streets, in shelters, in cars, or in places not meant for human habitation. Housing security also involves the prevention of housing instability, which can lead to homelessness due to factors such as economic hardship, eviction, or natural disasters.