Atlanta – October 05, 2026 -- Three in four people worldwide are cutting back on essentials like food and healthcare just to keep a roof over their heads, according to a new global report from Habitat for Humanity International.

The report, titled "Home at What Cost?", draws on nationally representative surveys of 30,758 people across 22 countries, conducted between April 10 and June 30, 2026. It finds that 75% of respondents cut back on at least one expense in the past year to cover housing costs.

The pressure hits hardest on the most vulnerable groups

People in informal housing arrangements reported the steepest sacrifices, with 89% cutting back on essentials, followed by lower-income groups at 85% and younger generations -- Gen Z and Millennials -- at 81%. One-third of respondents (33%) said they are spending less on food, 32% are dipping into savings or emergency funds, and 13% are delaying or avoiding medical care.

Nearly half fear one setback could cost them their home

Despite these trade-offs, 48% of people globally say a single unexpected problem could threaten their ability to stay housed. Forty percent said they accept some level of housing risk because safer options are financially out of reach, and 56% described their country's housing system as broken or not working.

"A home should never come at the cost of your health or your future," said Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International. "The research shows why we need governments, businesses and communities to work together to create housing systems that help people build a future instead of simply surviving the present."

Housing costs are delaying family planning and homeownership dreams

More than half of respondents (56%) said housing costs make it difficult to consider starting a family, a figure that climbs to 62% among Gen Z and Millennials. Nearly 6 in 10 parents (58%) worry that housing costs are limiting opportunities for their children.

In North America, 56% of non-homeowners in Canada and 42% in the United States said they don't expect to ever own a home. Housing dissatisfaction was highest in lower-income countries such as Côte d'Ivoire (66%) and Ethiopia (63%), compared with a global average of 35%.

Renters report worse health impacts than homeowners

Renters were nearly 1.5 times more likely than homeowners to say their housing situation could negatively affect their health, at 28% versus 19%. Meanwhile, 89% of respondents said safe and reliable housing helps them stay mentally healthy.

Climate change is compounding the strain: 30% of respondents expect extreme weather to make their living situation harder over the next three years, and 18% said their current home does not protect them from extreme heat, cold or flooding.