ABSTRACT
This chapter analyzes Baltimore’s low-income housing problem at the macro-level within a need–resources framework. It represents an attempt to establish the basic parameters of the city’s problem. The chapter discusses three dimensions of housing need–lack of adequate housing quality, lack of adequate private indoor space, and excessive housing expense relative to income. It is difficult from any single source of information to make judgments about trends in housing quality within the city. Thus, from the occupant perspective, just one-half of all low-income households in Baltimore perceived either a housing expense or an income deficiency problem. In mid-1969, 65,000 occupied dwelling units, or nearly one-quarter of the entire occupied stock in Baltimore, were found to be at a quality level below what is regarded as minimally acceptable in the city’s housing code. According to the criteria outlined, 85,000 households, or nearly one-third of the population of Baltimore, are bearing costs for housing which may be considered excessive relative to income.
