New Report Highlights Critical Role of Culturally Competent Housing Counseling, Underlines Urgency for More Services as Millions at Risk of Displacement due to Pandemic

The UCLA Asian American Studies Center, UCLA Center for Neighborhood Knowledge, and the National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development jointly announce the release of Crisis to Impact: Reflecting on a Decade of Housing Counseling Services in Asian American and Pacific Islander Communities. The research examines the state of housing for low-income AAPIs since the Great Recession and offers valuable insights on housing counseling services that can mitigate the anticipated wave of displacement of low-income communities of color from their homes as a result of the current economic crisis.

Findings from the report show that pre-pandemic, one in four AAPIs paid more than half of their income towards housing costs compared to whites (16 percent), placing many on the edge of financial vulnerability. Asian and NHOPI borrowers within the study area (seven metropolitan statistical areas that comprise one-third of the nation's total AAPI population) were also more likely than whites to take out mortgages that cost four to five times more than their household incomes. These startling statistics illustrate the extent to which AAPI households are severely cost burdened as a result of living in some of the nation's most expensive housing markets. The current economic crisis will only exacerbate the financial challenges faced by these severely cost burdened households, 54% of whom are limited English proficient and who have limited access to culturally and linguistically relevant services.