I certainly wasn’t saying that it isn’t a good option for some/most. It definitely can be. I’m saying that “just move” misses a lot of nuance, hurdles, pitfalls, and priorities. Like you said, you nearly ended up homeless. Even though you made it in the end, you were lucky you didn’t get stuck in that situation too.
And that advice ignores the runaway problems that causes the affordability crisis in the first place, the same problems that are going to happen in places that are currently more affordable too. It is a short term solution for yourself to move. But when those problems catch up to you or your kids later, where are they going to go then? How long can the goal post keep moving before we stop it?
That could be part of your research process, by moving to city that is more walkable, pro-transit etc. Which i do know is easier said that done and often is more expensive.
We do need collective action to make it better but the affordability crisis is incredibly complex and must be tackled from several factors ranging from car dependancy, city zoning, rent control policies, and several other factors. Most of what i mentioned is on the type and supply side, we also need to consider wage growth and job positions available. It becomes a complex mess with no 1 factor to blame.
One of the most effective things you can do is vote locally for politicians that want beneficial change like density and transit, and not vote for the ones that do things like “even though this road is zoned for multi units and mid rises, im gonna fight every development that isn’t a SFH because it ruins the “character” of the neighborhood.”
I certainly wasn’t saying that it isn’t a good option for some/most. It definitely can be. I’m saying that “just move” misses a lot of nuance, hurdles, pitfalls, and priorities. Like you said, you nearly ended up homeless. Even though you made it in the end, you were lucky you didn’t get stuck in that situation too.
And that advice ignores the runaway problems that causes the affordability crisis in the first place, the same problems that are going to happen in places that are currently more affordable too. It is a short term solution for yourself to move. But when those problems catch up to you or your kids later, where are they going to go then? How long can the goal post keep moving before we stop it?
That could be part of your research process, by moving to city that is more walkable, pro-transit etc. Which i do know is easier said that done and often is more expensive.
We do need collective action to make it better but the affordability crisis is incredibly complex and must be tackled from several factors ranging from car dependancy, city zoning, rent control policies, and several other factors. Most of what i mentioned is on the type and supply side, we also need to consider wage growth and job positions available. It becomes a complex mess with no 1 factor to blame.
One of the most effective things you can do is vote locally for politicians that want beneficial change like density and transit, and not vote for the ones that do things like “even though this road is zoned for multi units and mid rises, im gonna fight every development that isn’t a SFH because it ruins the “character” of the neighborhood.”