How many people live in subsidized housing in Idaho?
About 21,000 people in 2023, or about 1.8 people per unit. Subsidized housing options vary by location, ranging from high-rise or garden-style apartments to single-family dwellings, duplexes, and more. On average, residents in 2023 have lived in their units for six years and nine months.
Showing data for
In 2023
21.2K
people lived in subsidized housing in Idaho
In 2023
1.1%
of the Idaho population lived in subsidized housing
Federally subsidized rental housing began with 1937’s US Housing Act, which created the United States Housing Authority and provided financial assistance to state and local governments for housing low-income people. Since then, the government has provided housing assistance to low-income renters through programs overseen by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
In Lewis County, 2.4% of people live in subsidized housing, the most of any county in Idaho.
Share of population living in subsidized housing in 2023, by county
People who live in subsidized housing share one thing: incomes low enough to qualify for housing assistance. In 2023, HUD classified 95% of households in subsidized housing in Idaho as very low income and 68% as extremely low income. The average household in subsidized housing earned $16,510 in annual income. Across all subsidized housing, 72% of households earned less than $20,000.
44% of households with subsidies earned $10K–$15K in annual income.
Idaho, 2023
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Renters living in subsidized housing in Idaho earn income from different sources. Wages, salaries, and business income are the main income source for 18% of households. Another 78% of households earn the majority of their income from other sources, which include Social Security payments, insurance benefits, pensions, interest or dividends, and payments in lieu of salary like worker’s compensation, severance, unemployment, or disability. Welfare, which according to HUD and the Census Bureau includes the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, general assistance, or emergency assistance payments, is not the primary source of income for any households in Idaho. The remaining 4% of income sources are unaccounted for in the data.
Wages, salaries, and business income were the primary source of income for 18% of households in subsidized housing.
Idaho, 2023
Households living in subsidized housing contribute to their rent. In 2023, households living in subsidized housing paid average monthly rent of $398, which translates to an average of $4,776 per year, or approximately 28.93% of the average household’s annual income. HUD contributed $700 per household per month, on average.
Households that qualified for subsidies had a variety of family structures. HUD data focused on homes with children, female-headed households, and households that included people with disabilities. In 2023:
- 28% of households had one or more children under 18 years, and about 82% of these were headed by single parents.
- 72% of households were headed by women, and 24% were headed by women with children.
- 34% of all people living in subsidized housing had a disability.
Subsidized housing plays a crucial role in providing affordable living options for low-income families, and understanding its demographics is essential for effective policy and community planning. According to the Census Bureau, minority groups are defined as individuals who are not "white alone, non-Hispanic." In Idaho, 17% of households that lived in subsidized housing were headed by people belonging to minority groups. This statistic highlights the importance of recognizing the diverse populations that benefit from subsidized housing programs, which is crucial for creating inclusive and effective policies and community plans.
Subsidized households were most often headed by those 62 and older.
Idaho, 2023
Forty-three percent of households living in subsidized housing are headed by people age 62 and older, the youngest age when people can qualify for Social Security. People aged 25 to 50 are considered “prime-age workers,” and households led by this group make up 36% of all households in subsidized housing.
