Household Overcrowding

Concentrated Areas of Overcrowding Exist Through the Region

Why is it important?

Housing is generally the greatest single expense item for households. To overcome this cost burden, many households have multiple wage earners living under the same roof. Adequate housing should provide a safe, stable, and spacious area for its inhabitants to thrive in. Living with an excessive amount of people under one roof stifles an individual’s opportunity for freedom and expression, particularly in children. Overcrowding often means lack of quiet space for children to do homework, negatively impacting their education and development. Often times this lack of space also leads to domestic violence, separation, or divorce. In addition to the social effects of overcrowding, physical problems such as respiratory infections in adults and ear infections in children result.6

How are we doing?

The Sierra Nevada region has concentrated areas of overcrowded households particularly East of the Sierra divide. Communities concentrated in the areas in or around Truckee, Lake Tahoe and Mammoth Lakes show the highest concentration of overcrowded households with over ten percent. This is a result of decreasing housing affordability while education and job opportunities are not adequately providing residents with the resources they need to meet economic demands.

Please visit the Department of Health for the state of California for more information.