The housing crisis hits America’s heartland

Amy Scott Oct 2, 2018
HTML EMBED:
COPY
 Corn grows on a farm on July 13, 2018 near Amana, Iowa. Scott Olson/Getty Images

The housing crisis hits America’s heartland

Amy Scott Oct 2, 2018
 Corn grows on a farm on July 13, 2018 near Amana, Iowa. Scott Olson/Getty Images
HTML EMBED:
COPY

When you think of high rents and overcrowding, you probably don’t think of farmland. However, according to a new report by the Urban Institute, rural communities are facing a lack of affordable housing, just like more densely populated urban areas. One hundred fifty-two rural counties throughout California, Texas and several southeastern states, among others, were classified as “most severe” — that’s approximately 8 million people in need of more affordable rentals. An additional 46 million people live in rural counties classified as “moderately severe,” indicating that rural areas might just be ground zero for the nation’s housing crisis.

Click the audio player above to hear the full story. 

There’s a lot happening in the world.  Through it all, Marketplace is here for you. 

You rely on Marketplace to break down the world’s events and tell you how it affects you in a fact-based, approachable way. We rely on your financial support to keep making that possible. 

Your donation today powers the independent journalism that you rely on. For just $5/month, you can help sustain Marketplace so we can keep reporting on the things that matter to you.