Sea level rise and coastal flooding threaten affordable housing
December 01, 2020 by The frequency of coastal floods in the United States has significantly increased in recent decades, with projections indicating further escalation due to rising sea levels. This poses a critical threat to affordable housing, particularly affecting low-income residents living in older, substandard structures in low-lying areas. To assess the equity implications of sea level rise (SLR), this study presents the first nationwide analysis of current and future risks to affordable housing from coastal flooding. Using detailed building data and probability distributions for local flood heights and SLR, the study identifies states and cities along the coastlines where both subsidized and market-driven affordable housing are most vulnerable. It projects a more than threefold increase in the number of exposed affordable housing units by 2050 across the United States, with New Jersey, New York, and Massachusetts facing the highest absolute and proportional risks. Certain cities, predominantly in these states, are expected to encounter frequent coastal floods threatening their affordable housing stock annually. Targeted, localized strategies in these top-affected cities could play a crucial role in mitigating the challenges of preserving coastal-area affordable housing.