This document shares the sources and methods for our eviction risk fact sheets produced in 2021. For sources used in state-level analyses produced in 2020, please refer to this document. For sources and methodology used in local-level analyses produced in 2020, please refer to the link provided in the individual fact sheets.

Number of households behind on rent; share of households behind on rent by renter characteristics; share of renter households by spending source: Household Pulse Survey data from the US Census. The time period used in the analysis is listed under the “Sources and notes” section of each fact sheet. The race/ethnicity of the household is based on the race/ethnicity of the householder. Latinos include people of Hispanic origin of any race and all other groups are non-Hispanic.

Total rent debt and average rent debt per household: PolicyLink/ERI analysis of Household Pulse Survey data from the US Census (see fact sheet for time period used), 2019 5-Year American Community Survey, Community Housing Improvement Program rent-regulated apartments survey, and Research Institute for Housing America’s (RIHA) analysis of data from the USC “Understanding America” panel survey. Detailed methodology can be found here. 

Total and average owed by households with water debt: California State Water Resources Control Board COVID-19 Financial Impacts Survey. The analysis used survey results released on January 19, 2021. Average debt per household by race/ethnicity includes only households that hold delinquent debt.

Estimated Covid-19 cases and related deaths attributable to eviction moratorium: Estimates for California reported directly by the authors of “Expiring Eviction Moratoriums and COVID-19 Incidence and Mortality” and not yet incorporated into the published paper.

Rent burdens (total and economically insecure renters by race and gender): PolicyLink/ERI analysis of 2018 5-Year American Community Survey Integrated Public Use Microdata Series. Rent-burdened is defined as spending more than 30 percent of income on housing costs. Data for 2018 represents a 2014-2018 average. Household income is based on the year prior to the survey while housing costs are based on the survey year. Data by race and gender are determined by the race and gender of the household head and are only reported if the sample size is sufficient. Economic insecurity is defined as below 350 percent of the federal poverty line, or about $87,000 for a family of four or $44,000 for a single individual. Latinos include people of Hispanic origin of any race and all other groups exclude people of Hispanic origin.