Posted on May 29, 2015 by Ivan Pereira in AMNewYork AMNewYork, By Ivan Pereira Nearly half of middle-income New Yorkers are struggling to pay their rent, the worst percentage among major U.S. cities, according to a study released Thursday. About 43% of moderate income New Yorkers are severely rent burdened, meaning they pay at least 50% of their income on housing, according to NYUs Furman Center. The report defined moderate income New Yorkers as making between $17,000 and $40,900 a year.