Thousands of renters are ‘cost burdened’ in Delaware

By Andrew West

DOVER — Some notes and quotes between headlines and deadlines ...

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More than half of Delaware’s tenants are paying 30 percent or more of their incomes on housing.

The American Community Survey, released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau, says Delaware’s rate is 51.6% in 2023.

It was 49.4% in 2019.

Stateline, a non-profit news organization, studied the increases across the country. Stateline’s table ranked Delaware 15th in the category.

It is easy to see why the housing crisis is a big election issue in Delaware – and nationally.

Stateline’s reporter wrote, “There were 21 states where a majority of tenant households spent 30% or more of their incomes on rent and utilities last year, compared with just seven states in 2019.”

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development says anyone paying more than 30% of income is considered “cost burdened.” Above 50% is considered “severely cost burdened.”

A Delaware State Housing Authority report last fall said 44,000 Delawareans were in the “cost burdened” category.

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Today’s edition includes the latest installment of our “Seeds of Need” includes some perspective on the issue.

Visit our Disclosure section for a deeper dive deeper into the issues of poverty in Delaware.

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Delaware’s affordable housing crisis has been a huge topic.

At the Delaware Journalism Collaborative’s recent debate, gubernatorial candidates were asked about housing solutions.

New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer, who won the Democratic Party primary Tuesday, said the county’s actions on the issue included allowances for additional accessory dwelling units and an increase in the availability of vouchers for low-income residents. During the debate, he said there should be incentives to convert unused office buildings into apartments.

“The state of Delaware has a little over a million people and something like 50 local governments,” said Mr. Meyer. “What’s happening now when we have a crisis like the affordability of housing, things get gummed up.”

Mike Ramone, the Republican candidate for governor, said local restrictions are holding back developers.

“Government is the problem, not the solution,” he said. “You’ve got to get the government the heck out of the way.”

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Another Delaware statistic jumped out of the American Community Survey.

The Associated Press noted that Delaware’s foreign-born population rose to 11.2% in 2023, up from 9.9% the year prior.

The survey said the nation’s foreign-born population accounts for about 14.3%

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How many of you were surprised by Tuesday’s primary results?

What were the issues top of mind to Democrats and Republicans at the polls? Were you surprised by any of the results?

Mr. Meyer’s win brought back memories of Jack Markell’s win in 2008 when then Lt. Gov. John Carney had the endorsement of the Democratic Party.

Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long was the party leaders’ pick this year.

One statistic jumped out in the county view of results. Meyer won New Castle and Kent counties, but lost in Kent to Hall-Long, who grew up in Sussex County and has resided in the northern county for years.