INLAND EMPIRE - (INT) - Home values and rents in California are among the most expensive in the nation, and the state has one of the highest rates of homelessness.

Californians are increasingly concerned about these issues, with more than a third saying they’ve considered leaving the state due to housing costs.

Statewide, the Public Policy Institute of California found 68% believing housing affordability is a big problem in their part of the state, while 63% say homelessness is a big problem. In the Inland Empire, about 55 percent agree. Another 30 percent say it’s somewhat of a problem.

California has higher rates of cost-burdened households than the US as a whole.

More than half of the state's renters—and four in ten mortgaged homeowners—spend 30% or more of their household income on housing. About 45 percent of the Inland Empire’s renters spend 30 percent of more of their household income on housing.

Story Date: December 18, 2019