More than half of Portland tenants are struggling to afford rent.

According to a new report from Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies, almost 52% of renters in the Portland-South Portland area are “cost-burdened,” meaning they spend at least 30% of their income on housing. And more than 24% are “severely” cost-burdened, meaning that more than half their income goes to housing.

It’s a new record for the area but one that affordable housing advocates say is unsurprising, given rent increases that have outpaced wage growth, a competitive buyers market, recently sluggish new construction and an uncertain federal policy environment.

The increase distills what advocates, along with policymakers, municipal and state officials, and developers have been saying for years: Maine needs to build more housing.