Documents the continuing, growing crisis in housing affordability throughout the Nation. It contains important new information that is critical to ensuring an informed discussion regarding the appropriate Federal responses to this crisis. Chapters include: the policy context of this report; major and supplementary findings; policy implications; and 28 exhibits. Appendices include: data on housing problems and supplies of affordable housing; glossary; changes in the 1997 American Housing Survey and their impacts on estimates of worst case needs; and procedures used to estimate housing need and rental affordability from American Housing Survey data.