The data paints a bleak picture.
Despite vaccinations that are underway and a $900 billion stimulus package, the coronavirus pandemic continues to exact a steep economic toll on the United States. For millions of Americans, that means mounting trouble paying their rents and mortgages.
According to U.S. Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey, 12.8 million people were either behind in their rent or mortgage payments as of Dec. 7, or remained unsure whether their household could pay the next month’s rent or mortgage on time.
The Household Pulse Survey, which was launched in April to examine how the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting households across the country, has found that Americans’ housing anxieties continue to grow.
The number of people considered “housing insecure” in the survey has risen by 2.8 million since July. In mid-October, that number had fallen to 9.8 million but has since increased by 30%, according to the data.
Meanwhile, the latest batch of survey results from Nov. 25 to Dec. 7 indicate a whopping 85 million had difficulty paying for usual household expenses, including food, rent, car payments, medical expenses, among others.
Patrick Villanova 