This study explores the imbalance in affordable housing availability for low-income renters within metropolitan areas, highlighting that conventional national or regional affordability assessments often overlook significant within-metropolitan disparities. It reveals that while certain neighborhoods have affordable rental units for Extremely Low Income (ELI), Very Low Income (VLI), and Low Income (LI) households, the actual availability of these units is much lower, with many occupied by higher-income groups. The study finds that ELI households face the greatest constraints, and that regulatory environments, low-wage job mismatches, and transportation access contribute to these imbalances. Despite some neighborhoods having surpluses of affordable units, low-income renters often do not choose them due to various barriers. The study suggests policy interventions such as mobility counseling, temporary rental assistance, and relaxing residential development regulations to address these issues. However, it acknowledges limitations in establishing causality, the influence of spatial scales, and the reliance on current income measures, calling for further research to better understand these dynamics at more granular levels.

https://journals-sagepub-com.proxy.library.nyu.edu/doi/epub/10.1177/00420980231180490