The Center for Community Solutions worked with United Way of Greater Cleveland in 2023 to develop a community needs assessment. The project examined the conditions in Cuyahoga County related to Economic Mobility, Housing Stability and Health Pathways. The full report and executive summary provide analysis of data, pre-existing community assessments and 211 data trends.
Mixed (but better) housing news in Cleveland
One of the areas explored in the Housing Stability section was housing affordability. In recent years, the housing crisis across the country has intensified, particularly for low-income individuals. In some surprisingly good news, Cleveland was recently identified as having one of the most affordable housing market in the country. This is good news for those looking to purchase a home, but unfortunately for those who currently rent or plan to in the future, the outlook is not as rosy and has not been for a while.
There are about 75 affordable units available for every 100 low-income households in the region.
Our analysis shows that housing affordability in Cuyahoga County has remained steady over the past five years. Around 55 percent of renters and 79 percent of homeowners can afford their current housing arrangements. Renters, especially low-income renters, have more difficulty with finding affordable housing compared to those who own homes. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition renters with incomes below 50% of the area median income are the most likely to have unaffordable housing. (In Cuyahoga County 50 percent of the area median income is $30,368). There are about 75 affordable units available for every 100 low-income households in the region.
Check out the full 2023 United Way of Greater Cleveland Community Needs Assessment Report report to learn more about housing affordability by household type, presence of children, race & ethnicity, and age.
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