The National Low Income Housing Coalition released today its annual report, The Gap: A Shortage of Affordable Homes. The report finds that the lowest-income renters in the U.S. face a shortage of 7.1 million affordable and available rental homes. Three-quarters of renters with extremely low incomes are severely housing cost-burdened, spending more than half of their income on rent. Recent proposals for drastic cuts to HUD and its programs are contraindicated, as the report emphasizes the continued need for a bipartisan commitment to solving the affordable housing crisis. Sustained federal investments are desperately needed to preserve and expand the affordable housing stock, bridge the gap between renters’ incomes and rent costs, and provide emergency aid for renters who experience unexpected short-term financial setbacks.