The U.S. Census defines an overcrowded unit as one occupied by 1.01 persons or more per room (excluding bathrooms and kitchens). Units with more than 1.5 persons per room are considered severely overcrowded. Overcrowding increases health and safety concerns and stresses the condition of the housing stock and infrastructure. Overcrowding is strongly related to household size (particularly for large and very-large households) and the availability of suitably sized housing. Overcrowding impacts both owners and renters; however, renters are generally more significantly impacted.

Housing is generally the greatest, single expense for California families. Current standards measure housing cost in relation to gross household income: households spending more than 30 percent of their income, including utilities, are generally considered to be overpaying or “cost burdened.” Severe overpaying occurs when households pay 50 percent or more of their gross income for housing.

Analysis of housing characteristics includes an estimate of the number of households and lower-income households, by tenure (rental or ownership), paying more than 30 percent of their income on housing. The analysis must also identify the number of households, by tenure, in overcrowded housing situations.

Identifying and evaluating existing housing needs are critical components of the housing element. The analysis will help local governments identify existing housing conditions that require addressing and households with housing cost burdens or unmet housing needs.

Due to the limited supply of adequately sized units to accommodate larger households, large families often face significant difficulty in locating adequately sized, affordable housing. Female-headed households can have lower incomes and higher living expenses and may lack the resources needed for adequate childcare or job training services, often making the search for affordable, decent, and safe housing more difficult.

Housing Conditions

Housing Condition Survey Table

 Copy Table

The analysis of housing stock characteristics must include an estimate of the number of substandard units in need of rehabilitation and/or replacement. This information will assist local governments in developing appropriate housing policies and prioritizing housing resources.

Homelessness in California is a continuing and growing crisis. Individuals and families experiencing homelessness are without permanent housing largely due to a lack of affordable housing. Homelessness is often compounded by a lack of job training and supportive services to treat mental illness, substance abuse, or domestic violence.

Farmworkers are traditionally defined as people whose primary incomes are earned through permanent or seasonal agricultural labor. Farmworkers are generally considered to have special housing needs due to their limited income and the often unstable nature of their employment. In addition, farmworker households tend to have high rates of poverty, live disproportionately in housing that is in the poorest condition, have extremely high rates of overcrowding, and have low homeownership rates.