December 14, 2021 — Issue Brief

As of September 2021, renters across the United States owed an estimated $15 billion in rental debt. According to estimates from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, that translates to 10.3 million adults living in rental housing—14 percent of adult renters—who were not caught up on rent. The tenants behind on rent are mostly low-wage workers and disproportionately people of color.