BPC/Morning Consult Poll on Recent Housing Issues – 2022

Key Takeaways

A majority of respondents reported experiencing increased housing expenses—with renters far more likely than homeowners to report difficulty paying.

• Half of respondents (54%) said they have experienced an increase in their rent, mortgage, or utility payments over the past 12 months—with urban respondents (60%) and renters (65%) more likely to report an increase in their housing expenses.
• Lower-income respondents (those making less than $50k/year) were more likely than middle and higher-income respondents to report difficulty in paying their monthly rent (50%) and utility payments (49%) over the past 12 months.
• One in six renters are not caught up on their rent payments (16%) and are not confident (17%) in their ability to pay their next rent payment on time.
  • 21% of Black respondents and 18% of Hispanic respondents are not caught up on their rent payments compared to 14% of white respondents.
  • Millennial (21%) and GenZ (22%) respondents were also more likely than the average, and older respondents, to be behind on rent.
• A majority of adults, across income levels and racial groups, with a mortgage reported being caught up on their mortgage payments (90%) and being confident in being able to pay their next mortgage payment on time (93%).

Homelessness and high housing costs that contribute to inflation were top concerns for households—and important issues for the federal government to address.

• A majority of adults said growing homelessness (83%) and high housing costs contributing to inflation (82%) were important for the federal government to address, with majorities across political affiliations:
  • 89% of Democrats and 77% of Republicans said it was important the federal government address homelessness.
  • 88% of Democrats and 75% of Republicans said it was important that the federal government address high housing costs that are contributing to inflation.
• While 35% of respondents noticed increased homelessness in their communities over the past year, that percentage jumped to 53% of respondents from the West and 46% of respondents from urban communities.
• On average, respondents said their household’s monthly expenses have increased 37% because of inflation.
  • Lower-income adults (34%) were more likely than middle (26%) and higher-income (20%) adults to report a higher percentage increase in their household’s monthly expenses due to inflation.
• Three in five (61%) respondents said inflation had impacted their household’s spending on housing expenses—with urban adults (68%) more likely than suburban (60%) to report increases in expenses.

Respondents across the political spectrum agreed that ensuring the availability of affordable housing should be a focus at all levels of government.

• A bipartisan majority of respondents agreed that federal, state, and local governments have a responsibility to ensure that families have safe and decent housing they can afford, with the highest percentage of respondents agreeing that state governments, in particular, are responsible (78% of Democrats and 59% of Republicans).
• A majority of adults (71%) believe passing bipartisan legislation to grow the supply of homes and improve housing affordability should be a priority for Congress.

A majority of respondents across the political spectrum support the following initiatives being included in a bipartisan deal in Congress to grow the supply of homes and improve housing affordability:

Methodology

This poll was conducted by Morning Consult between September 9, 2022 – September 10, 2022 among a national sample of 2,210 adults. The interviews were conducted online, and the data were weighted to approximate a target sample of adults based on gender, educational attainment, age, race, and region. Results from the full survey have a margin of error of +/-2%.

For questions, or to speak to Executive Director of BPC’s J. Ronald Terwilliger Center for Housing Policy, Dennis Shea, please contact the center’s media relations manager Natalie Rogers.