HUD CHAS 2016-2020 ACS — Census Tracts

HUD's Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS) data for the 2016-2020 ACS 5-year period, at the Census Tract geographic summary level.

Each year, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) receives custom tabulations of American Community Survey (ACS) data from the U.S. Census Bureau. These data demonstrate the extent of housing problems and housing needs, particularly for low-income households. The CHAS data are used by local governments to plan how to spend HUD funds and may also be used by HUD to distribute grant funds.

The data contain counts of households with housing problems (cost burden, overcrowding, incomplete kitchen/plumbing facilities) and other housing characteristics broken down by household income (relative to HUD Area Median Family Income — HAMFI), tenure (owner/renter), householder race/ethnicity, household type (elderly, small related, large related, etc.), and disability status.

Key definitions:

• Housing problems: A household has a housing problem if it has any of: (1) incomplete kitchen facilities; (2) incomplete plumbing facilities; (3) overcrowding (more than 1 person per room); (4) cost burden (housing costs exceed 30% of income).
• Severe housing problems: As above but cost burden threshold is 50% of income.
• Cost burden: Monthly housing costs (including utilities) exceeding 30% of monthly income.
• Severe cost burden: Monthly housing costs (including utilities) exceeding 50% of monthly income.
• HAMFI: HUD Area Median Family Income — the median family income calculated by HUD for each jurisdiction to determine Fair Market Rents and income limits for HUD programs.
• Extremely low income (ELI): Household income ≤ 30% of HAMFI.
• Very low income (VLI): Household income > 30% and ≤ 50% of HAMFI.
• Low income (LI): Household income > 50% and ≤ 80% of HAMFI.

Note: All estimates are rounded per Census Bureau requirements (0 stays 0; 1–7 rounds to 4; ≥ 8 rounds to nearest multiple of 5). Starting with the 2018 CHAS release, enhanced disclosure avoidance protections suppress some previously available estimates.

Geographic summary level: 140 — Census Tracts.