High housing costs are forcing millions of Americans to make difficult financial trade-offs, according to a report from Habitat for Humanity International. The Home at What Cost? study, which collected data from 30,000 people across 22 countries, reveals that many households are sacrificing basic needs to afford shelter. In the United States specifically, 68% of respondents said they cut back on at least one expense in the past year to cover housing payments.
These financial sacrifices extend beyond simple budgeting. A third of respondents reported spending less on food, while 32% dipped into their savings or emergency funds. Medical care was also affected, with 13% delaying or avoiding treatment. Lower-income individuals and younger generations face the highest rates of these trade-offs, with 85% of lower-income adults and 81% of Gen Z and millennials reporting they have had to make such compromises.
The pressure to maintain a roof over their heads is so intense that many are accepting risks to their safety. 40% of survey participants said they tolerate unsafe living conditions because safer options are unaffordable. In the U.S., 59% of respondents believe the domestic housing system is broken. The financial strain is also weighing on family planning, with over half of individuals saying housing costs make it difficult to consider starting a family.
Concerns about the long-term stability of their housing situation are widespread. In the U.S., 46% of respondents stated that a single unexpected problem could threaten their ability to stay housed. This anxiety is particularly acute among younger generations, with 62% of Gen Z and millennials feeling unable to start a family due to housing costs. The financial burden is also evident among parents, with nearly six in ten reporting that housing costs limit opportunities for their children.
While the report covers 22 nations, the U.S. shows the highest rate of pessimism regarding future homeownership, with 42% of surveyed individuals stating they do not expect to own a home in their lifetime. Housing has become a major source of stress for many, with 37% of U.S. respondents listing it as one of their biggest sources of anxiety. Habitat for Humanity CEO Jonathan Reckford said the data highlights the urgent need for collective action to fix these systems.
