New Report: 70% of Georgians Are Struggling to Afford At Least One Basic Need

New research offers a clearer picture of the financial strain Georgians are encountering. And, it reaches far beyond the families typically counted as "low-income."

The Georgetown Center on Poverty and Inequality examined what it actually costs households to cover four essentials: housing, food, healthcare, and childcare.

The finding: 70% of Georgians are financially burdened by at least one of these costs.

That's a significant number. It suggests financial hardship in Georgia extends well beyond people living below the poverty line, touching a much broader share of working households.

Housing Is Only One Piece of the Puzzle

In a state where 33% of families are stretched to the limit, high housing costs take the first slice of every paycheck, leaving almost nothing for everything else.

The report highlights the full extent of the financial squeeze:

• 36% of Georgians are burdened by food costs
• 48% are weighed down by healthcare
• 53% of families with children under the age of 6, are overwhelmed by childcare costs

For many households, more than one of these essentials hit at the same time. A family may be able to maintain their rent but fall behind on utilities. Another can manage the cost of groceries but can't afford to send their child to aftercare for a week. On paper, these households look stable. Yet, their finances tell a more complicated story.

It's Not Just a Low-Income Issue

One of the report's more notable findings is that financial pressure doesn't disappear as income rises.

Nationwide, more than 1 in 4 middle-class households are strained by housing costs, and nearly half struggle under the weight of healthcare expenses.

This matters because conversations about financial hardship often focus narrowly on whether someone falls below the poverty line. This framing overlooks a much larger group of people. Many households earn too much to qualify for government assistance but not enough to comfortably absorb rising costs, debt, and unexpected expenses. For these families, a single unplanned cost can strain an entire month's budget.

Renters Face Additional Pressure

The report found that 83% of renters nationwide experience at least one basic need financial burden, with more than half burdened specifically by housing costs. 27% of renters are managing three or more burdens simultaneously.

This has direct implications for housing stability. Affording monthly rent is only one part of securing housing. Renters also need funds for deposits, utilities, and moving costs; and must clear additional hurdles such as credit, tenant screening reports, and prior rental issues before they can qualify for a new lease at all.

A Structural Gap, Not Just a Budgeting One

Georgetown's research focuses on a central question: what portion of a household's income is consumed by basic necessities?

According to the study, housing, food, healthcare, and childcare can collectively absorb 65% of a family's net income. Which leaves just 35% to cover all remaining expenses, including transportation, utilities, debt payments, and emergency savings.

This doesn't diminish the value of financial planning or budgeting education, which can help households manage debt, build credit, and make informed decisions. But it does illustrate a huge limitation; budgeting tools cannot generate income that a household doesn't have.

Why This Matters for Georgia

These findings suggest that income and employment status alone don't fully capture financial stability. A person can be employed and still struggle with housing costs. A family can earn above the poverty line and still lack meaningful savings. A renter may be able to afford monthly rent and still face significant barriers to securing an apartment.

With 70% of Georgians burdened by at least one essential expense, this challenge extends far beyond any single income bracket. It plays out every month in the widening gap between what a paycheck brings in and what it takes to cover basic needs.

Sources: Georgetown Center on Poverty and Inequality — Key Findings, WABE