The affordability crisis is getting worse in Ohio and the U.S., but it’s not new

A Brookings Institution analysis reveals that over 40% of Ohio households, including 73% of single-parent households, cannot afford basic expenses like housing, food, and childcare. The affordability crisis, which predates recent inflation, disproportionately affects people of color, with 54.2% of Ohio families of color struggling to meet costs in 2024.