More Than Half of Shreveport-Bossier Renters Are Cost-Burdened, Study Finds
A new study from the Center for Business and Economic Research (CBER) at LSU Shreveport highlights a growing affordability challenge in the Shreveport-Bossier housing market: more than half of all renter households in the region are spending a significant portion of their income just to keep a roof over their heads.
📊 The Numbers Tell the Story
According to the study, which uses data from the 2024 American Community Survey, 51.3% of renter households in the Shreveport-Bossier area are classified as cost-burdened. This designation applies to households spending more than 30% of their income on rent.
The Shreveport-Bossier region—defined in the study as Caddo, Bossier, DeSoto, and Webster parishes—ranks among the highest in the state. Only the New Orleans-Metairie-Slidell area reported a higher percentage at 53.1%. Statewide, the average stands at 45.3%.
💸 A Greater Impact on Lower-Income Households
The burden becomes even more pronounced among lower-income renters:
70.1% of low-income renters in Shreveport-Bossier are cost-burdened
71.5% of extremely low-income households face the same challenge
These figures are significantly higher than the statewide rate of 44.1% for low-income renters.
🏘️ Limited Affordable Housing Supply
One of the key findings of the study is a shortage of affordable rental units. For renters in the extremely low-income category, the region has just 54 affordable units available for every 100 households in need.
This imbalance between supply and demand contributes directly to higher rent burdens and increased competition for available units.
🏗️ Challenges in Building Affordable Units
The study notes that developers face obstacles in creating affordable housing. Rising construction costs—including labor and requirements for hurricane-resistant materials—make it difficult to build lower-cost units without financial assistance or incentives.
📈 Market Pressures Keeping Renters in Place
Another factor influencing the rental market is the current interest rate environment. Higher mortgage rates are delaying homeownership for many would-be buyers, keeping more households in the rental pool longer. This sustained demand places upward pressure on rental prices.
🔍 Looking Ahead
The study suggests that expanding rental assistance programs could help alleviate the burden for many households, allowing more renters to keep housing costs at or below the recommended 30% of income.
As housing affordability continues to be a key issue across Louisiana, the findings underscore the importance of addressing both supply constraints and economic pressures impacting renters in the Shreveport-Bossier area.