New reporting shows record number of Americans paying 30% or more of income on rent, leaving them rent-burdened and at risk of becoming homeless

LOS ANGELES, December 17, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Proving once again the rent is too damn high, new reporting shows an 12% increase in homelessness in the United States due to both the elimination of pandemic assistance and people having to pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Justice for Renters, the California campaign for rent control which will be on the November 2024 ballot, says it is time for cities and counties to be able to regulate how much landlords can charge.

"As we head into the heart of the holidays, people are making the difficult decision of whether to put food on the table, buy presents for their children, or pay rent," said Susie Shannon, Policy Director for Housing Is A Human Right. "Rent control is essential if we are going to continue to try to stem the tide of homelessness in California and across the country. This latest reporting shows in no uncertain terms the high cost of rent is driving people out of their homes. We must stop anti-tenant corporate landlords and Big Real Estate from racking up obscene profits while pushing people out onto the streets."

The Justice for Renters ballot campaign kicked off May 25^th in Los Angeles with a press conference at Los Angeles City Hall. Advocates needed to collect at least 546,651 valid California voter signatures to qualify the measure. They collected more than 810,000 in total. In October, advocates delivered more than 732,000 letters from Californians across the state to Governor Gavin Newsom, urging him to support much-needed rent control.

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Contacts

Ged Kenslea, AHF Sr. Comms Dir.
(323) 791-5526
Ged.Kenslea@ahf.org

Jacki Schechner, AHF VP, Media Relations
(310) 633-0547
Jacki.schechner@ahf.org