Nearly half of American renters are "rent burdened", that is, they spend more than 30% of their income on rent.
11 million Americans spend more than 50% of their income on rent.
Eviction is nasty. Annually more children experience the loss of shelter due to eviction. It's not good for grown-ups to be evicted either.
The rental market is unique in every location. In the Northern Highlands of Wisconsin, $500-550/month is the going rate for 1 BR/1 bath apartment, with a coin operated laundry in a no-stairs building, and with off-street parking. I understand that the national average is about 3x that rent.
Some day I imagine I may be a renter … maybe in Wausau WI, maybe in Fort Collins CO, maybe in Ashland OR. I'd have to pay the landlord, wherever...