The generally accepted definition of affordability is for a household to pay no more than 30 percent of its annual income on housing. Families who pay more than 30 percent of their income for housing are considered cost burdened and may have difficulty affording necessities such as food, clothing, transportation and medical care. An estimated 12 million renter and homeowner households now pay more than 50 percent of their annual incomes for housing, and a family with one full-time worker earning the minimum wage cannot afford the local fair-market rent for a two-bedroom apartment anywhere in the United States. (This definition provided by hud.gov).

The greater Wilmington area has an urgent need for affordable housing. Increasing numbers of low-income and disabled individuals and families do not have access to quality housing that is within their economic means. 

To afford a modest two-bedroom apartment, residents in our area must earn about $13 an hour. In a local economy dominated by low-paying service industry jobs, many people fall short of the region's Living Wage and Housing Wage, making it difficult for them to obtain and maintain housing stability. People with disabilities who depend on Supplemental Security or Social Security income face even greater obstacles to obtaining affordable housing. 

For more about our region's Housing Wage, and for details on housing affordability in our area compared to that of other state and national jurisdictions, see "Out of Reach," the comprehensive annual report published by the National Low Income Housing Coalition: http://www.nlihc.org/oor/oor2009/.