Out of Reach

Rental Housing for America's Poor Families:
Farther Out of Reach Than Ever
2002

How to Use the Numbers
Sample Data: New Castle County, Delaware
 
Location Number of Households
Total Households Renter Households Renter Households as Percent
of Total Households
New Castle County   188,935  56,421  29.86%
In 2000, there were
188,935 households 
in New Castle 
County, Delaware.		 In 2000, there were 
56,421 renter households 
in New Castle County, 
Delaware.		 Renter households make 
up 29.86% of the total 
households.
 
2002 Family Income
Location 2002 Estimated Median Family Income (HUD) Maximum Affordable Monthly Housing Cost by % of Family AMI
Annual Monthly 30% 50% 80% 100%
New Castle County   $75,900  $6,325  $569  $949  $1,518  $1,898
The median annual family income is $73,900. The median monthly family income is $6,325 For an extremely low income family, earning 30% of the Area Median Income, monthly rent of $569 or less is considered affordable. For a very low income family, earning 50% of the Area Median Income, monthly rent of $949 or less is considered affordable. For a moderately low income family, earning 80% of the Area Median Income, monthly rent of $1,518 or less is considered affordable. For a family earning 100% of the Area Median Income, monthly rent of $1,898 or less is considered affordable.
 
2002 Fair Market Rents by Number of Bedrooms
Location Zero One Two Three Four
New Castle County   $490  $645  $752  $1,022  $1,235
The Fair Market Rent for a 0 bedroom rental unit is $490.  The Fair Market Rent for a 1 bedroom rental unit is $645. The Fair Market Rent for a 2 bedroom rental unit is $752. The Fair Market Rent for a 3 bedroom rental unit is $1,022. The Fair Market Rent for a 4 bedroom rental unit is $1,235.
 
Income Needed to Afford FMR
Location Amount Percent of Family AMI
Zero
Bedrooms		 One
Bedroom		 Two
Bedrooms		 Three
Bedrooms		 Four
Bedrooms		 Zero
Bedrooms		 One
Bedroom		 Two
Bedrooms		 Three
Bedrooms		 Four
Bedrooms
New Castle County  $19,600  $25,800  $30,080  $40,880  $49,400  26%  34%  40%  54%  65%
For a 0 bedroom unit to be affordable, a renter would need an annual income of $19,600. For a 1 bedroom unit to be affordable, a renter would need an annual income of $25,800. For a 2 bedroom unit to be affordable, a renter would need an annual income of $30,080. For a 3 bedroom unit to be affordable, a renter would need an annual income of $40,880. For a 4 bedroom unit to be affordable, a renter would need an annual income of $49,400. The income needed to afford a 0 bedroom unit at the Fair Market Rent represents 26% of the AMI. The income needed to afford a 1 bedroom unit at the Fair Market Rent represents 34% of the AMI. The income needed to afford a 2 bedroom unit at the Fair Market Rent represents 40% of the AMI. The income needed to afford a 3 bedroom unit at the Fair Market Rent represents 54% of the AMI. The income needed to afford a 4 bedroom unit at the Fair Market Rent represents 65% of the AMI.
 
 Location
Housing Wage
Hourly Wage Needed to Afford
(@ 40 hrs./wk.)
Percent Change
in 2BR
Housing Wage
(2001-2002)
As % of Minimum Wage
( DE=$6.15 )
Zero
Bedroom
FMR
One
Bedroom
FMR
Two
Bedroom
FMR
Three
Bedroom
FMR
Four
Bedroom
FMR
Zero
Bedroom
FMR
One
Bedroom
FMR
Two
Bedroom
FMR
Three
Bedroom
FMR
Four
Bedroom
FMR
New Castle County
 $9.42
  $12.40  $14.46
 $19.65
  $23.75  3.44% 153%
202%
235%
 320% 386%
A renter household would need to earn $9.42 per hour for a 0 bedroom unit at Fair Market Rent to be affordable. A renter household would need to earn $12.40 per hour for a 1 bedroom unit at Fair Market Rent to be affordable. A renter household would need to earn $14.46 per hour for a 2 bedroom unit at Fair Market Rent to be affordable. A renter household would need to earn $19.65 per hour for a 3 bedroom unit at Fair Market Rent to be affordable. A renter household would need to earn $23.75 per hour for a 4 bedroom unit at Fair Market Rent to be affordable. Between 2001 and 2002, the amount a renter would have to earn in order to afford a 2 bedroom unit increased by 3.44%. The housing wage for a 0 bedroom unit represents 153% of the minimum wage. The housing wage for a 1 bedroom unit represents 202% of the minimum wage. The housing wage for a 2 bedroom unit represents 235% of the minimum wage. The housing wage for a 3 bedroom unit represents 320% of the minimum wage. The housing wage for a 4 bedroom unit represents 386% of the minimum wage.
 
Location
Work Hours/Week
Necessary at Minimum
Wage to Afford
( DE=$6.15 ) 
Zero
Bedroom
FMR
One
Bedroom
FMR
Two
Bedroom
FMR
Three
Bedroom
FMR
Four
Bedroom
FMR
New Castle County  61  81  94  128  154
A renter earning the minimum wage must work 61 hours per week to afford a 0 bedroom unit at the Fair Market Rent. A renter earning the minimum wage must work 81 hours per week to afford a 1 bedroom unit at the Fair Market Rent. A renter earning the minimum wage must work 94 hours per week to afford a 2 bedroom unit at the Fair Market Rent. A renter earning the minimum wage must work 128 hours per week to afford a 3 bedroom unit at the Fair Market Rent. A renter earning the minimum wage must work 154 hours per week to afford a 4 bedroom unit at the Fair Market Rent.