I get that you’re being kind of sarcastic, but I’ve seen both sides of this situation.

I was never homeless, but as a single dad during the recession a few years back, I was terrified of losing my job. Couldn’t sleep, constantly worrying about how I’d pay the mortgage and the fear of becoming homeless. My son was still in elementary school, and I was stressed about after-school childcare costs and what kind of hours I’d get if I had to find a new job.

I became obsessed with getting out of debt. I picked up a second job working from home at a call center. I worked full-time during the day and almost full-time at night. Every extra penny went toward paying down the mortgage and car loans. Eventually, I paid everything off and got debt-free. I almost lost my job but didn’t, though the fear was overwhelming—like nothing I’ve ever felt.

Now, my son’s grown, I’m in a position where I can retire, so I can’t complain. But I see today’s housing prices, and there’s no way I could afford to buy a new home with a mortgage now, even working two jobs. The cost of living has skyrocketed, but wages haven’t kept pace. It’s worse than it’s ever been, and a lot of families are in crisis with no real way out. That’s what’s hard to watch.

And the only way my son will have a house of his own, is by inheriting mine when I pass on. I feel blessed that my house is paid off and that my property taxes are very reasonable, but how did housing costs get so freakin’ high?!

That’s one of the reason I turned socialist. Things shouldn’t be this way.