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This percentage indicates the number of people in SWFL that spend less than 45% of their income on their housing and transportation combined. This is measured at the neighborhood level. It takes into account how much of a household's income is spent on rent or mortgage and utilities. But transportation costs tend to be higher when housing is not located near things like job centers, healthcare and grocery stores. So, both housing and transportation must be considered together. In short, housing and transportation affordability are fundamental quality of life indicators.

We need to this number by

When we started our work, this percentage was 27.77%

Tracking the number of eviction filings each year is essential for understanding housing stability in our region. Eviction filings signal that many households are struggling to keep up with their rent, which can result in families losing their homes if the issue escalates. This metric helps us assess how much financial strain renters are under as housing costs continue to rise. For our coalition’s goal of ensuring that housing and transportation costs do not exceed 45% of household income, high eviction rates show that housing is becoming harder to maintain for many families. By monitoring these filings, we can better understand where housing pressures are most severe and where interventions are needed to reduce displacement and instability.

We need to this number by

When we started our work, this percentage was 27.77%

The number of people experiencing homelessness shows us how serious the housing crisis is in our region. If we’re seeing more and more people without stable homes, it means we need to build more attainable housing and make sure that rising housing and transportation costs aren’t driving people into homelessness. This metric is crucial because homelessness is the most extreme form of housing instability, and reducing it is essential to reaching our coalition’s goal.

We need to this number by

When we started our work, this percentage was 27.77%

Tracking the median family income in the region is important for understanding if people in our region can really afford to live here. Our coalition’s goal is to ensure that 80% of people in Southwest Florida can afford housing and transportation that costs no more than 45% of their income by the year 2040. By monitoring the median income, we can tell if families are earning enough to meet this goal. If incomes are not keeping pace with the rising costs of living, it becomes harder for families to afford their homes, cars, gas, car maintainance and insurance, which impacts our goals.

We need to this number by

When we started our work, this percentage was 27.77%

Tracking the median rental cost in the region is crucial to understanding housing affordability and whether we're meeting the coalition’s goal. If rental prices are rising faster than incomes, it pushes more households into cost-burdened situations, where they spend more than 30% of their income on rent. Monitoring the median rental cost helps us assess whether there is enough housing available at many price levels and guides our efforts to increase the supply of attainable rentals, ensuring we stay on track toward our broader affordability goals.

We need to this number by

When we started our work, this percentage was 27.77%

Tracking the percentage of people who are cost burdened—those spending more than 30% of their income on housing—is crucial because it highlights how many families are struggling with the high cost of living. When a large portion of their income goes to housing, other essential parts of the family budget, like healthcare, food, education, and transportation, often get squeezed. This financial strain can lead to difficult trade-offs, such as skipping medical care or forgoing healthy meals to make rent. Since our coalition’s goal is to ensure that 80% of people in Southwest Florida can afford both housing and transportation without exceeding 45% of their income, tracking this metric helps us see how rising housing costs ripple through a family’s entire budget. By addressing housing affordability, we also improve families' ability to meet their other basic needs and achieve financial stability.

We need to this number by

When we started our work, this percentage was 27.77%

Tracking the mean travel time to work is important because it provides insight into how much time people in our region spend commuting, which directly impacts their quality of life and overall affordability. Long commutes can lead to higher transportation costs, more stress, and less time for family, and other activities. For our coalition’s goal of ensuring that housing and transportation costs together don’t exceed 45% of income, reducing commute times can play a key role. If people have to travel long distances to get to work, they often end up spending more on gas, car maintenance, or public transportation, which puts a strain on their budgets. By monitoring travel times, we can better understand whether people are living near their jobs or if housing affordability is pushing them farther away, leading to higher costs and less time for daily well-being.

We need to this number by

When we started our work, this percentage was 27.77%

Tracking the total cost to own and operate a car is essential because transportation costs make up a significant portion of many families' budgets, especially in regions like ours, where public transit is limited. This includes expenses like gas, maintenance, insurance, and vehicle payments, all of which can add up quickly. To meet our coalition’s goal, keeping car ownership costs manageable is critical. When families spend too much on their cars, it leaves less room in their budget for housing and other essential needs. By monitoring these costs, we can better understand how transportation affordability affects overall financial stability.

We need to this number by

When we started our work, this percentage was 27.77%