ST. CLOUD -- A new report by the Minnesota Housing Partnership shows the Tri-County area is among the Minnesota counties with the least amount of affordable housing for renters who are lower income.

Benton County is number two on the list with only 30 units available for every 100 low-income apartment seekers. Stearns County is number three with 31 units per 100 and Sherburne County is tied for 9th with 36 units per 100.

Minnesota Housing Partnership Executive Director Chip Halbach says oftentimes people's income doesn't grow with inflation.  He says when families have to spend more than 30% of their household income on rent, they have less for food, health care and quality education.

Halbach says for cities like St. Cloud which have colleges or universities in them, it is more difficult to find affordable rent because families are competing with students for those properties.

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