Twenty per cent of Canadian households have trouble finding the money to live in their homes because of a lack of affordable housing, the Conference Board of Canada says.

In a study released Tuesday, the think-tank estimates 75 per cent of Canadian families can comfortably afford their homes -- meaning that housing costs consume no more than 30 per cent of their pre-tax incomes.

Another five per cent live in subsidized rental housing. That leaves 20 per cent struggling with mortgage or rent payments that eat up more than 30 per cent of their incomes.

For that 20 per cent, it means making sacrifices in other areas, such as buying less food. As a result, the Conference Board says health suffers, productivity and competitiveness are reduced and the cost of health care and welfare is indirectly increased.

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