By Elizabeth Zach, RCAC staff writer

In nearly every area of the country, both renters and homeowners are spending more than 30 percent of their income on housing, according to a recent National Low Income Housing Coalition report. According to the group, there is a particularly severe shortage of rental homes for extremely low-income earners.

This shortage is evident in every state, say the report authors. Nationally, the country’s inventory falls short by more than seven million rental homes that are both affordable and accessible to extremely low-income earners.

For every 100 extremely low-income families that rent, there are only 35 affordable and available rental homes across the country. Geographically, the numbers vary. In Maine, for instance, families have more options – for every 100 extremely low-income families, there are 59 available affordable rentals. In Nevada, there are just 15.

To see the report, go here: http://nlihc.org/gap