Supplementary Findings: Finding 7

• Growth in worst case needs was lowest between 1991 and 1997 among the household types more likely to receive rental assistance, the elderly and families with children. While overall worst case needs grew by 12 percent during this period, the number of elderly households with worst case needs increased by 8 percent. The number of households with worst case needs increased by 6 percent among families with children.

Between 1991 and 1997 growth in worst case needs was lowest among the groups more likely to be receiving rental assistance: the elderly, families with children, and non-elderly households with disabled persons present. Over one-third of elderly very-low-income renters report receiving assistance, and in 1997, 30 percent of families with children were assisted. While overall worst case needs grew by 12 percent during this period, the number of elderly households with worst case needs increased by 8 percent. The number of households with worst case needs increased by 6 percent among families with children.

Worst case needs among non-elderly adults with disabilities have always been difficult to estimate from AHS data.²³ Based on the only proxy available from the AHS (receipt of Supplemental Security Income by households with no children or elderly present), however, it appears that worst case needs among the disabled also grew at below-average rates. Between 1991 and 1997, the number of very-low-income renters reporting Supplemental Security Income who had priority problems only grew by 8 percent, while the number reporting rental assistance grew by 23 percent. Because priority problems did not change significantly for this group between 1995 and 1997, worst case needs among households containing adults with disabilities are estimated to have remained unacceptably high—in the range of 1.1 to 1.4 million.

The only household type with above-average growth in worst case problems between 1991 and 1997 was the residual "other household" group. Most households in this group are single adults younger than 62 who live alone or with nonrelatives.²⁴ Worst case needs among this group, which typically has the lowest priority for rental assistance, grew by 23 percent between 1991 and 1997, rising from 1.6 to 1.9 million.

• Very-low-income elderly households are increasingly likely to have a worst case housing need, 36 percent in 1997 compared with 31 percent in 1995. Families with children became more likely to have worst case needs as well. Among such households, this likelihood rose to 33 percent in 1997 from 31 percent in 1991.

Despite their slower growth in number of households with needs, both very-low-income elderly households and very-low-income families with children became more likely to experience worst case needs. While the number of very-low-income elderly renters dropped modestly between 1991 and 1997, those remaining in this income group became increasingly likely to have a worst case problem, 36 percent in 1997 compared with 31 percent in 1995. The number of very-low-income families with children did not grow either, but they became more likely to have worst case needs as well. Among such households, this likelihood rose to 33 percent in 1997 from 31 percent in 1991. Among other household types, the probability of having worst case needs dropped somewhat over this 6-year period.