Van Life at 72: Hazel's Struggle With the Housing Crisis
Cost of rent has surpassed my small retirement check.
After Kathryn James realized she couldn’t afford to pay $1300 a month for her one-bedroom apartment anymore; she started looking for something cheaper to rent. She was told by her landlord about a rent increase starting January 2026.
She searched for two weeks, and was unable to find anything in a safe part of Tucson to rent for less than $1,000 per month. Knowing she was going to be evicted within ten days, Kathryn decided to rent a storage unit to house all of her belongings and live in her camper van until she could find affordable housing.
Kathryn’s story is a stark reflection of the growing homelessness crisis, a crisis that is no longer confined to the streets of major cities but is now encroaching upon the most vulnerable members of society—the elderly.
Life on the road is a constant struggle
Life on the road is a constant struggle for Kathryn. Even though she rents an RV spot with electric and water; she still has difficulties getting around to shop for her groceries and other essentials using her meager social security check. She can barely make ends meet.
Yet, despite the hardships, Kathryn maintains a surprising resilience and has faith that her circumstances will change and she will find affordable housing soon. She continues to dream that one day she might find a stable living situation.
Kathryn’s story is a reminder of the devastating impact of the housing crisis. It highlights the systemic failures that leave millions of American vulnerable to homelessness, including our aging population.
Kathryn and countless others like her deserve better. They deserve affordable housing, access to essential services, and the dignity and respect that every human being deserves.
What can be done about it?
Increase affordable housing options: This includes investing in the construction of subsidized housing units, providing rental assistance programs, and strengthening tenant protections.
Address income inequality: By raising the minimum wage and expanding access to social safety net programs, we can help ensure that all Americans have the resources they need to afford basic necessities like housing.
Support community-based organizations: These organizations play a vital role in providing essential services to homeless individuals, including food, shelter
, and healthcare.
Kathryn’s story is a call to action. It’s a reminder that the housing crisis is not just a statistic; it’s a human tragedy unfolding in communities across the country. We must all do our part to ensure that no one is left behind. Hopefully, the Trump administration will focus on solutions to the housing crisis and find people like Kathryn affordable housing in a safe neighborhood.
Thanks for reading,
Kindly,
Carol
A few observations: she wants to rent in a "safe" part of town. Perhaps she needs to consider a rural area outside of the city where rent may be cheaper.
As for what can be done:
Unfortunately, raising the minimum wage hasn't done much to help people because a lot of people find out the true minimum wage is zero - they lose their job because the business can't afford them at a higher wage.
However, I wholeheartedly agree with the idea of supporting community services. It would be interesting to know what sort of support system Kathryn has, such as a church she belongs to.
Raising the minimum wage is great, but pointless if the government doesn't restrict utilities, healthcare, and businesses from raising their rates in conjunction with the wage increases.