The report examines the concept of rental deserts, defined as neighborhoods where rental units make up less than 20% of the housing stock.  It highlights how restrictive zoning and NIMBY attitudes limit rental housing options, reinforcing patterns of racial and socioeconomic segregation.  Rental deserts are predominantly found in suburban, higher-income, and predominantly white neighborhoods.  The study uses data from the American Community Survey to map the distribution of rental deserts across the 100 largest metropolitan areas, finding a significant correlation between restrictive land use policies and the presence of rental deserts.  It presents the Texas Triangle, Connecticut, New York, Austin, and Atlanta as examples of this correlation. The report concludes with recommendations for zoning changes to increase rental housing options and promote more socioeconomically integrated communities.  It emphasizes the need for multifamily housing, affordable homeownership, and expanded housing subsidies to address these inequities.

https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/research-areas/working-papers/rental-deserts-segregation-and-zoning