Global Report Finds Three in Four People Cutting Back on Essentials Due to High Housing Costs
A new global report from Habitat for Humanity International reveals that three out of four people have cut back on essential expenses such as food, healthcare, and savings over the past year due to rising housing costs. Based on surveys across 22 countries involving 30,000 respondents, the study highlights how financial strain is disproportionately affecting vulnerable groups like lower-income individuals, younger generations (Gen Z and Millennials), and those in informal housing arrangements. The report also shows that nearly half of all people globally believe a single unexpected problem could threaten their ability to remain housed. Many are accepting unsafe living conditions due to unaffordable alternatives, with 40% acknowledging they live in substandard or risky environments. Additionally, over half of respondents feel the housing system is broken and ineffective. Housing costs are also delaying major life decisions such as starting a family (56%) and achieving homeownership aspirations—particularly among younger generations and non-homeowners in North America. The findings emphasize that unaffordable housing not only impacts financial stability but also mental health, with over one-third of respondents citing their housing situation as a significant source of stress.
