Fed Board, Report: Did the Pandemic Change Who Became Behind on Rent? Characteristics of Renters Behind on Rent Before and After the Pandemic Onset

“The pandemic era increased the percent of renters behind on rent but did not substantially change the composition of those behind across a variety of characteristics such as education and income. Renters behind only in 2021 were broadly similar to those also behind in both 2019 and 2021 across a range of characteristics correlated with housing insecurity, suggesting similar risks of becoming behind. Both groups live in households with lower usual income than those who were not behind in 2021, as measured by education, parental education, and disability status. We find modest variation in racial and ethnic composition across the two groups, though sample size limitations prevented drawing firm conclusions that future work may be able to resolve.”