Learn about housing insecurity and homelessness, how many people in the U.S. are facing housing instability, and how their participation in elections is impacted.
People experiencing housing insecurity and homelessness are less likely to vote. But what exactly is housing insecurity? And how is it similar and/or different to homelessness? Since many of us can’t answer these questions—or we have a biased, misinformed comprehension of housing instability and the people impacted by it—it is necessary to define these issues before we move towards solutions.
There is no single definition for homelessness. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, for example, lists four distinct categories of homelessness: literally homeless, imminent risk of homelessness, homeless under other federal statutes, and/or fleeing/attempting to flee domestic violence (you can learn more about the classifications of homelessness here). There is also no standard definition for housing insecurity, which contributes to the lack of information on how many people are afflicted and a poor understanding of the root causes of the challenges these individuals face.
The Office of Policy Development and Research defines housing insecurity as “an umbrella term that encompasses several dimensions of housing problems people may experience, including affordability, safety, quality, insecurity, and loss of housing.” The U.S. Dep of Health and Human Services also defines the term fairly broadly, stating that “housing insecurity encompasses a number of challenges, such as having trouble paying rent, overcrowding, moving frequently, or spending the bulk of household income on housing.”
Spending the majority of household income on housing means that households are spending more than 30% of their income on housing, and are therefore considered cost-burdened. According to a recent study by the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard in 2022, 42.0 million American households (nearly one third of the country) are cost-burdened, an increase of 4.9 million since 2019.
The impact of housing insecurity on voting in Ohio.
Over 1 million Ohioans live in a household that is cost-burdened. That means about 44% of Ohio renters are spending at least half of their income on housing. This includes 325,722 households that are severely mortgage-burdened and 707,820 Ohioans that are severely rent-burdened. Additionally, there are 447,717 extremely low-income renters, but only 177,318 affordable rental homes available to them, leaving a shortage of 270,399 affordable homes. In 2023, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development found that the number of unhoused individuals in Ohio rose by nearly 7% from 2022 to 11,368 persons.
Unsurprisingly, housing insecurity and homelessness significantly impact civic engagement, with individuals facing eviction, high housing costs, and frequent moves being less likely to vote. Moreover, the lack of a permanent address complicates voter registration and access to voting information. The National Conference of State Legislatures cites some of the barriers individuals who are housing insecure face when voting, such as having no address, no identification, no transportation, and little access to information.
Moreover, a 2022 article published in Politics & Science suggests that eviction rates also negatively impact democratic participation; the authors conclude that residential stability is crucial in creating an environment that promotes civic engagement. In Ohio in 2022, eviction proceedings affected 6.4% of the state’s tenants, returning to near pre-pandemic levels and the halting of the eviction moratorium and emergency rental assistance. That is a lot of distressed people who–understandably–are unlikely to prioritize civic engagement.
And Black and Latinx individuals and families facing housing insecurity are even less likely to vote than white ones. A 2024 study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America found that residential mobility (the movement of people from one residence to another within a local area) can lead to reduced electoral participation among extremely low-income adult Black and Latinx housing voucher recipients. The authors conclude that the “finding has implications for understanding residential mobility as a potential source of durably depressed voter turnout among the poor.”
Current voting and residency policies in Ohio.
In Ohio anyone experiencing homelessness who is a U.S. citizen, over the age of 18, and not currently incarcerated for a felony conviction has the right to vote. But the lack of a permanent residence or address can make it difficult for eligible voters to receive voting information and absentee ballots. Ohio law defines residence as:
(1) the location that you consider to be a permanent, not a temporary, residence AND
(2) the place where your habitation is fixed and where, whenever you are absent, you intend to return. If you do not have a fixed place of habitation, but you are a consistent or regular inhabitant of a shelter or other location where you intend to return, you may use that location as your residence for the purposes of registering to vote.
An individual's residence is an important aspect of their participation in democracy because it determines which offices and issues they are eligible to vote on. However, Ohio voters do not need a fixed place of habitation to cast a ballot this November.
For example, if an individual is a consistent inhabitant of a shelter or other location, they can use that location as their residence to register to vote, whether they register online or on paper. The ACLU of Ohio recommends, though, that demographics experiencing housing insecurity register to vote on paper rather than online because online registration requires both driver’s license or Ohio identification number and social (you can read more on their recommendations here). If you do want to register online and will need an I.D. number, you (or a representative ) can reach out to VoteRiders, who will help you get an I.D. for free.
As long Ohioans are impacted by housing insecurity, they will face extra challenges not only with their homes but also with making their voices heard. The people most impacted by high housing costs should be able to initiate positive change via voting. That is why Cleveland VOTES is committed to shifting power towards equitable civic engagement and infrastructure that makes voting more accessible. By addressing the root causes of housing insecurity and improving civic infrastructure, our region and state can foster a more inclusive and participatory democracy, ensuring that all voices are heard and valued. Because #EveryVoteCounts.
Additional resources:
New Census Data Reveal Voter Turnout Disparities in 2022 Midterm Elections
Eviction and Voter Turnout: The Political Consequences of Housing Instability
Homelessness in Ohio surged last year. Advocates don’t see an end in sight
Ohio Secretary of State - Voter Eligibility Residency Requirements
Clevelanders Face Housing Insecurity - A Higher Minimum Wage Would Help
Housing Matters - How Big Is the Problem of Housing Insecurity?
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