The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated housing insecurity for millions of households, especially for low-income, Black, Indigenous, and other people of color (BIPOC) households. However, the solutions are not elusive—when given access to emergency rental assistance, the renters most in need experienced housing stability. 

Households of color have been more likely than white households to apply for assistance, a difference that likely reflects income disparities by race and ethnicity, as Black households are more than twice as likely to report being behind on rent compared to white households. Despite the success of emergency rental assistance in addressing housing instability, more resources are needed; over half of low income renters behind on rent have not applied for rental assistance. Download the May 2022 Renter Snapshot, which uses Minnesota as an example of the trends.