By Shamecca Brown, Granite State News Collaborative
Wow. A one-bedroom apartment starting at $1,800-a-month rent with nothing included. Who’s really surviving this? I can tell you right now – for many of us, it’s not easy. And I’m personally living it.
I’m working, taking care of my family, paying every bill on time, and still feeling like I’m drowning. I’m doing everything I’m supposed to do – showing up to work, being a good neighbor, helping my community, yet I’m sitting here wondering how I’m supposed to afford another rent hike without something else falling apart.
When I first saw my new rent prices, my stomach dropped. $1,800 for a one-bedroom apartment – and that’s before utilities, food, car insurance, gas, or even the basic things families need to get by. It’s like no matter how hard you work, it’s never enough. When did surviving become this expensive?
I know firsthand that homelessness doesn’t always start on the streets; it starts with one rent increase too many, when someone’s paycheck can’t stretch any further, when a single parent has to choose between paying rent or buying groceries for their kids. I work with individuals who receive help through Section 8 or other programs, and even they’re facing rent prices that make no sense. Some of them are still paying hundreds out of pocket just to keep their homes, even with assistance. And what’s worse, I’ve seen landlords take advantage of them just because they hold a voucher. A voucher is supposed to give people a fair chance at decent housing, not turn them into targets for discrimination or price manipulation.
The prices keep going up, but wages aren’t following. It’s like there’s this huge disconnect between what people earn and what landlords expect. And when management companies or landlords keep hiking rent, no matter what’s going on in your life, it feels like greed is winning over compassion.
People talk about homelessness like it’s a personal failure. The truth is, for many families it’s the system that’s failing them. When you’re paying $1,800 just for a roof over your head, how are you supposed to save for emergencies, for your kids, or even for a future? One unexpected bill, a car repair, a medical expense, a lost shift and you’re in trouble. The worst part about all this is the emotional toll. When your rent goes up, your peace of mind goes down. You start questioning everything – should I move, should I get a second job, will I even qualify for another place if I leave? You feel trapped.
Every time I look at my rent statement, I feel like I’m being punished for trying to live decently. I’m not alone. I’ve seen friends pack up their homes because they can’t afford another increase. I’ve seen families split up because one person had to move in with relatives while the other stayed behind just to keep the lease alive. This isn’t just numbers on paper, it’s people’s lives being rearranged because of unaffordable housing.
Landlords and management companies have a right to make money, but not at the expense of human dignity. We shouldn’t have to work ourselves into exhaustion just to keep a roof overhead. We’re not asking for handouts, just fairness – a system that remembers people are behind those rent checks. Teachers, nurses, shelter advocates, cashiers, drivers are the backbone of the community, yet many of us can’t even afford to live in the same communities we serve.
Rent shouldn’t be a luxury. Housing is a human need, and when it’s priced out of reach, that’s when homelessness begins. Not because people gave up, but because the system gave out. Staying silent helps no one. It’s uncomfortable to admit that I’m struggling, but it’s the truth. Too many of us are quietly holding on by a thread, afraid to say it out loud. But maybe if more of us do, someone will finally start listening.
We need accountability. We need laws that protect tenants from unreasonable increases. We need rent caps that reflect real life, not corporate greed. And we need more people in power to understand that stability shouldn’t be a privilege; it should be a right. Because at the end of the day, homelessness isn’t just about losing a home, it’s about losing peace, safety, and a sense of belonging. It’s time we start connecting those dots.
Shamecca Brown is a New Hampshire-based columnist who is family-oriented and passionate about serving underserved communities. These articles are being shared by partners in the Granite State News Collaborative. For more information, visit collaborativenh.org.