Phoenix seniors facing rental crunch as living costs rapidly rise

Among the people affected is 69-year-old Cathy Johnson, who has seen a nearly $500 rent increase for her lease renewal.

[@azcookin3177]

It’s not just on the rise, it’s exploding.

[@m9078jk3]

When I grew up in the 1960's senior citizens owned homes with property and were not renters

[@Raminakai]

Telling these stories is extremely important! A 500.00 a month increase is outrageous! Shocking greed.

[@shirleymadison9400]

Why we are not doing something for the seniors give us some help please we are being put on the street. Lord help us no one seem to care we are old now

[@eckankar7756]

I'm 69, why didn't my peers buy very affordable houses decades ago when it was easy to qualify for a home loan even on low pay??? My small house I bought had payments of $118. a month. I've paid it off over 25 years ago and still live in it. None of my friends or co workers back then would buy a house, they loved living in fancy apartments. Bad decision. Be the little pig that built their house of bricks. The wolf is as the door now.

[@antoniorosario2985]

From the bottom of my heart, absolute shame on the people squeezing every penny from these poor old souls. I can understand greed, but this is simply torture and tyranny against your own people; an open act of treason.

[@sandyrose2398]

It's those greedy Corporations/Hedge Funds/Wall Street - who are buying up Foreclosed homes and apartment buildings. They're about MONEY - they don't have a clue about what real people are going thru. Millionaires hang out with other Millionaires.

[@chrisfifield8583]

Because arizona has no rent control , there is no limit on how much landlords can jack up the rent , its unfortunate and heartbreaking seeing this happen to our elderly. There are some heartless landlords out there

[@wanaraz]

Let's see where your heart is. You want to pay her $500.00 increase. I am listening.

[@chrisfifield8583]

@@wanaraz thats why I bought my house . No one is raising the rent on me

[@wanaraz]

@@chrisfifield8583 but you said it's heartbreaking . Well what are YOU going to do?

[@chrisfifield8583]

@@wanaraz what can I do ? I'm only 1 person . It is heartbreaking , but there's nothing I can personally do about it . The only thing I can do is vote for changes in our system in the coming election, and take steps to prevent what's happening to other people , happening to me

[@eckankar7756]

I'm 69, I bought my home ages ago and have not had a mortgage payment in over 25 years. Why didn't people my age do the same when houses were cheap and affordable. Even low income wage earners could afford a home then, but so few of my peers and friends bothered to buy. My friends thought it was strange I'd buy a house that wasn't huge, they lived in fancy and pricy apartments. The 70s, 80s and 90s were SPEND SPEND SPEND like there was no tomorrow. I didn't do that. I was the little pig that built her house of bricks and now the wolf is at the door. I'm so glad I prepared.

[@mariacullati2371]

Sad. Whoever thought we would end up like this?

[@vickyandersen8660]

We should help these seniors

[@wanaraz]

You can. You can pay her $500.00. Every month.

[@eckankar7756]

@@wanaraz Yep, drive over to her apartment and hand her $500. today

[@vickyandersen8660]

I'm saying that more senior homes should be built. One day all of us (hopefully) will reach tha age and some of us will not have a place to stay.

[@eckankar7756]

@@vickyandersen8660 I'm 69, my peers had decades to qualify and buy very affordable homes, but so many didn't. I worked over time in a salon to buy my house and invest, I was the only one that did. The rest went home to watch TV, I stayed 3 hours late to earn more money. Many were complacent in the 1980s and 90s and now paying for that. I chose to be the little pig to build her house of bricks, the wolf comes to the door one day, be prepared. What you do in your 20s, 30s and 40s will determine how you live in your 50s, 60s and 70s. Make good saving decisions while you're young.

[@CZAR-OF-SARCAZM]

@@eckankar7756 very wise choice. Like you I'm a senior myself, everything I have is paid for. Some don't understand that people are "NOT BORN SENIORS" a good work ethic n sacrifice will pay in your later years..

[@debrarounion4469]

I'm in this age group and suspect it's because of covid costs over last 2 years. Guess I need to buy a tent for Phoenix tent city. All this has been playing out for about 8 months and it will get worse.

[@haywood4299]

This is why you need to prepare for your own retirement. Don't expect social security to pay your bills or to even be there at all. People need to stop buying 8$ coffee and leasing luxury cars and then expecting someone else to pay for their expenses when they get old and sick.

[@joyace9674]

Wait till you get old then you talk mean time you know what you can do

[@eckankar7756]

Maybe she could move back to Pittsburg and have her family help her with rent? Unless if you are rich you really need the support of friends and sane family members to make it today. I'm 69 and I wonder why so many people my age never did buy a house back when it was so easy to qualify for a small, affordable home. I bought a cheap, small home decades ago and not paid mortgage payments for 25 years now. People our age had every opportunity to buy an affordable home even on low income...not so today.

[@nofindausername]

Really? I could never buy an affordable home. I have been on disability for Yeats. Never could make enough money.

[@thesquad2253]

gtfo i see u comment this all the time

[@mariacullati2371]

No sight like hindsight.

[@grandmajane2593]

Property taxes went up so much and heating costs went up so much I was forced to give up my house.

[@eckankar7756]

@@grandmajane2593 What did you do after you 'gave up' your house? Did you sell it and make some money?

[@jessicalow9163]

I see a lot of seniors go to trailer parks like in casa grand, Tucson, Nogales, Detroit is very cheap

[@eckankar7756]

Homes in Detroit are dirt cheap. I was looking online at some of them...so cute...$50k...old red brick homes need work, and of course, in Detroit which must be a living hell, but what a shame not to revamp those thousands of well built older homes and make the area livable again.

[@effytraveler6155]

be careful. Those RV to own or such is you own the RV. The land it rests on and fees are up to the landowners. The ability to move your home when you can't afford the lot rent or when they sell to a corporation means you shell out 5000, wait a month for it to happen, and must meet building codes in the new area you go to.

[@thomasrule92223]

try this. i am 82 years old and live in a 40 ft travel trailer. bullhead city az for $395.00 mo spot rent includes all utilities.i used to live in an apt for $1000 mo plus utilities of about $300.00. i moved here 2 years ago and loveing it. great park and office peeps.

[@thetruth-zh5ki]

I'm seriously thinking about doing this it makes sense ♥️

[@hazztv6317]

I hope you own your lot because a lot of people and being evicted from the lot.

[@seventhchild7270]

@@hazztv6317 EXACTLY!....recently reported that in Florida, INVESTMENT COMPANIES BUYING UP EVERYTHING...MANY PEOPLE LIVING IN MOBILE HOME PARKS, ETC...WAS GIVEN AN EVICTION NOTICE TO VACATE, THE OWNERS OF THE LAND SOLD THE PROPERTY!...MOST OF THE PEOPLE LIVING THERE ARE SENIORS , AND HAS RESIDED THERE FOR OVER 10 to 15 YEARS OR LONGER!....THIS IS HAPPENING IN FLORIDA, ARIZONA, TEXAS, LAS VEGAS, CALIFORNIA, AND VARIOUS OTHER STATES AND EVEN OTHER COUNTRIES...CANADA, AUSTRALIA, ETC

[@vickyandersen8660]

But the thing is people aren't selling or renting any mobile homes. And when they are, it's renting for 1,000 already plus lot rent or being sold for $10,000+ AND you still pay space rent. There has to be better for seniors.

[@eckankar7756]

There are still some mobile home parks in Bullhead City and Kingman where you can buy the pad you put your home on.

[@disiamtheillusion]

Um it's not just seniors it's everyone who isn't getting a welfare check or govt salary.

[@vickyandersen8660]

But seniors have more of an excuse not to work.

[@marietaylor5174]

@@vickyandersen8660 many of them are not physically fit to work.

[@arlitabeard7693]

Many here in Arkansas get less then $1000 a month seniors

[@joyace9674]

I’m one of them 😢

[@cindytackett7106]

SS is issued according to how much (you worked) I worked since I was 16. At age 65 my benefits are $ 1,500 which we know is the average rent of a 1bdrm apt. If you never worked it averages about $ 800. All young people need to learn to save for retirement. Most likely SS will not be available in 5 or 10 years ??

[@AJourneyOfYourSoul]

There had to be a time in her life she could have bought a house, but didn’t. So many long term renters shunned buying a home for many decades. Instead of buying themselves some real estate, they spent their life buying other people real estate.

[@jglee6721]

I'm sure the senile old thief in the WH has nothing to do with the 40 year high inflation.

[@marietaylor5174]

That is so true unfortunately.

[@effytraveler6155]

Do you know how much property taxes can run? Do you know if you live in a rural area with no sewage system, how much a septic tank costs to replace? Do you know how much it costs to clean it or do trash pick up? Do you know if your tub needs to be replaced, who has to pay for it?

[@michellemarie1197]

Mortgages are fixed and can be paid off unlike renting..... keep that in mind, this just breaks my heart.

[@yolandalcheek462]

This is horrible to do this to seniors. It's Godless and heartless behavior!

[@jackwilson8051]

I live in Iowa & in my city you can rent a 2 bedroom Apartment for $700 to 750 a month.

[@theknow7557]

A problem with no end in sight. Write your local politicians. Never mind, you’re on your own.

[@mongrelbitchband]

We have to double up

[@marietaylor5174]

Not in my lifetime because I value my sanity.

[@Gator777]

How much did the county go up on the assessment for county taxes? How much did the insurance increase the insurance? Governments wanting more money when most haven't even been open for business. Seeing how this is widespread I would like to know what program are they following?

[@Hot_Stank653]

Everyone relax the Federal Reserve said that inflation is at 8.6% so it's not as bad as people say.

[@davidkrausell1741]

This women should apply for senior housing or sec 8

[@davidkeogh9276]

The american system does not care about the vulnerable.

[@Aikynbreusov]

"The value of a society is determined by how well the people take care the poor and vulnerable ones....." ( His Holy Dalai Lama, 2008)..

[@starlite556]

There is nothing HOLY about him he is just a man.

[@Aikynbreusov]

@@starlite556 same thing can be said about Jesus too..... in fact, Jesus was a criminal and that's why he got crucified for scamming the poor by giving them false hope in return for food and shelter.....

[@susanabrown1736]

At a certain age it is better to rent than living in a owned house, especially if there is an issue of being disable. But, be sure that the apartment is affordable rent for seniors provided by the City.

[@keithsnider1958]

Universal rent control is needed to be protected from greed.

[@wanaraz]

America does not embrace communism.

[@keithsnider1958]

@@wanaraz that’s not communism! Communism would be free rent for all! Read a book!!

[@wanaraz]

@@keithsnider1958 nope wrong. Educate yourself about china and russia.

[@keithsnider1958]

@@wanaraz educate yourself. It’s not hard. First step. Turn off Faux News. Free your mind. Your ass will follow.

[@coffeepandacat]

Rent control should be a federal law. Vote for a president who supports this

[@carmenfarine3580]

Now no vacation time and no eating out. Also no more shopping

[@priscillacrutcher370]

WELL SINCE YOUR AWARE OF THE PROBLEMATIC REALITIES OF OUR LIVES, AS WE CANT QUALIFY FOR RENTALS,, BECAUSE OUR FIXED INCOMES DONT COVER 3 X'S THE MONTHLY COSTS OF TENT. AND SHELTERS ARE OVER FILLED, THEN PERHAPS GIVEN CONSIDERATION TO OUR DEDICATION TO PROFESSIONS, WHICH ALLOWED US TO RAISE OUR FAMILIES INDEPENDENTLY, NOT DEPENDENT ON WELFARE, PERHAPS WE DESERVE TO SOMEHOW BE GIVEN A GRACE PROTOCOL.THAT ENABLES US TO LIVE UNDER INDEPENDENT SHELTER, WE WORKED SO HARD FOR, TO AVOID THIS TRAGEDY OF REAL ESTATE OWNER/LANDLORD GREED? OR, CONSIDER AN AREA THAT IS SAFE AND CAN CREATE AN OPTIONAL INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY OF SENIORS, WHO ARE CAPABLE OF OVERSEEING A TENT CITY TYPE UNIFIED PROTECTED AREA!? ❤️🙏YUP IM ID HELP TOO!

[@hazztv6317]

You could share apartments together.

[@vickyandersen8660]

@@hazztv6317 very few let them. Like they barely qualify.

[@somethingdifferent4u247]

👉Agenda 21 is in full effect 🤔👈

[@SM-pc7io]

Rental costs are awful these days. Everyone blames landlord greediness but when I look further I find that legislators keep raising property taxes, insurance companies keep raising rates and contractor rates are now double what they did before the pandemic. For management companies with employees, payroll costs and required benefits have nearly tripled. Obamacare killed the insurance industry and now we all get health insurance that costs a fortune and covers almost nothing. Those of us who pay for it anyway. This is what happens when the government gives more free stuff....we all end up paying for it in ways we did not expect. Just follow the money trail.

[@danieldaniels7571]

The rent is too damn high!

[@debrahill2272]

The developments got tax credits to build affordable housing..There should be a cap in place on rent increases in the county contracts ..😮

[@alksjda]

everybody is feeling the squeeze....

[@eckankar7756]

Yes...that isn't addressed...no matter what ALL of us are feeling the financial pressures

[@coffeepandacat]

@@eckankar7756 except those with homes and rich people

[@eckankar7756]

@@coffeepandacat Another lie,

[@libertysprings2244]

It's very sad but most elderly are living alone and an elderly roommate ib the same situation is the obvious solution

[@bmoshareholderappleshareho855]

I could see many houses with multiple generations living inside them.

[@alexiseaton-price6109]

ELDERLY BECOMING HOMELESS.BECAUSE THESE PROPORTIES DONT CARE

[@sandyallen1523]

This is why I won't get rid of my van

[@nycdweller]

Time to get the family to give stipends

[@bigvalley4987]

At least the Pittsburgh neighbor have savings to dip into 🙏🏾 You go gal.🕺🏾🕺🏾🕺🏾🕺🏾

[@phobedavis7014]

I'm grateful that this woman has savings. Black women please pay attention if a white woman is having trouble paying rent. Where does that leave you?

[@bladerunna2022]

Preach and if white America is standing by and watching there aunts, mothers, sister, veterans and patriot. Where do this leave us when this shit continue to collapse. My wife still think geting nails and hair done is essential even thoe I educate her to what happening. She is literally broke and jobless with zero dollars and I just do what I need to do for my daughter's and take care of her the best I can.. she is awake now ND aware to what happening now.. you need to wake the sister up because allot of dem really out of touch with the the cost of living and won't afford to live

[@phobedavis7014]

@@bladerunna2022 Thank you for being a king. I am aware because I am single. Unfortunately, it sounds like your wife is depending on you. In today's economy it takes the king and queen working together to build wealth. Stay the course. I believe in Black Love.🤵🏾♥️👰🏾=💰

[@bladerunna2022]

@@phobedavis7014 appreciate you input queeen

[@eckankar7756]

but that would require the black woman to work

[@cashed-out2192]

@@eckankar7756 You never seen a black woman work? Only the white women, work, huh?

[@anthonykence9954]

These people should have bought a home years avoid this problem. It's the only way to not have increases. Renters are in big trou

[@kshani_official]

High taxes and owning a home requires a lot of maintenance that many elderly people can no longer do.

[@eckankar7756]

I'm 69, I bought a small house ages ago. It was easy back then to buy. an affordable home that even lower income would qualify for. My house payment was $118 a month. I still live in that Phoenix home now worth over $400K. I worked as a hairdresser, worked overtime, saved, invested, paid my mortgage in half the time. We had every opportunity to own a home and have a good savings for old age, but so many people my age simply chose not to participate in their own well being.

[@eckankar7756]

@@kshani_official You are delusional. I'm 69, my house has been paid off over 25 years. My taxes and insurance is $107. a month in phoenix. What maintenance? I got a new roof during the storm of 2011 free from insurance. I bought a new HVAC to replace the old one I had for 20 years. I put away $30. a month in a special mutual fund for 20 years knowing I'd need a new one one day so when I needed one the money was sitting there ready. I have Gardners do the yard, not that much, I saved up for it. I worked as a hairdresser and easily prepared for retirement. So many others simply couldn't bother.

[@anthonykence9954]

@@eckankar7756 not buying a home is a financial mistake for lots of elderly people living today.

[@AJourneyOfYourSoul]

@@eckankar7756 good job. You did exactly what you are suppose to do, but so many don’t bother to. It isn’t always easy, but pays off big time when you grow older. Enjoy.

[@karimbennett5651]

Sad to say, rent increases come with the territory of being a lifelong renter. These folks should have bought decades ago.

[@jessicaramos5302]

Tell her she can afford and live in Mexico away from the USA. Go to Puerto Vallarta Mexico. She can rent and live happy there.

[@xayrosantacruz6923]

Universal basic income is a need, how much longer does it have to be pushed back?

[@diegolara4202]

UBI will only give landlords more of a reason to increase rent. The more money people have the higher prices go, that is basic economics. UBI supporters somehow believe that you can just produce new money and that businesses will keep prices the same.

[@Jaloja]

That won't fix the problem. Where does that magic money come from? Free money caused the inflation that is feeding the problem. Raise taxes on younger people so they can't afford a place to live? Whats next free housing for anyone on SS or unemployed? The cycle can get to where nobody wants to work if the free side is better.

[@xayrosantacruz6923]

@@diegolara4202 not necessarily true, if one store sells their box of cereal for $2 and the other store sells theirs for $6 which one would the consumer choose most likely? The market will try to gain as much people to invest and buy from them.

[@diegolara4202]

@@xayrosantacruz6923 the government printed trillions the past two years and look what happen. Your theory didn't apply then do why would it magically apply if what was done the past two years was done on a monthly basis forever. Sorry but prices will not remain the same. If you create more of something you delude it's value. It's basic economics.

[@AJourneyOfYourSoul]

UBI will just make the problem of increased inflation worse.

[@JohnnyPeacenic]

Thats old news 2 weeks old

[@uniquelymike]

#SilverTsunami

[@mikedennington8856]

welcome to capitalism...

[@keisukeyoshida2839]

Wrong. Capitalism was working just fine until government stepped in

[@eckankar7756]

I'm this woman's age. I was a hairdresser and I bought a small and affordable house 40 years ago, paid it off quickly, worked overtime, invested, saved, not paid a mortgage in over 25 years and I'm doing ok. My bitty house is now worth $400K in Phoenix. We seniors had PLENTY of opportunity to have bought an affordable home even on low income, but so many didn't bother, it was more fun to rent for decades. Shame for young people today that don't have that option. There is no excuse for seniors to not have prepared for old age.

[@coffeepandacat]

@@eckankar7756 Well some people were not as wise, but that doesn't mean they should suffer. They are still human. Those economic dynamics do not exist at this time and probably never again.

[@scottsummersreloaded4618]

uh huh i bet they wishin they voted for that rent is too dam high party guy that they mocked and laughed at back in the day now. smh

[@ButcherBird-FW190D]

Uh, yeah Forrest. That's why you're supposed to purchase a home when you are younger. Ya keep on renting, taking the easy way out. Then, voila, you're old and no one wants you. Better have some bling-bling set aside; and/or own your home prior to that point.

[@Dc-sl3up]

We need Islamic Emirate states of America and housing right in sharia constitution.

[@ElearningDigest]

We’re going to get the Aztec States of America instead.

[@theundone777]

No, we already have the extreme Evangelical Christian states of America. They clearly dgaf.

[@craigenputtock]

95 is the new 55. People need to get back to work!

[@arlitabeard7693]

Many here in Arkansas get less then $1000 a month seniors

[@eckankar7756]

I'm 69, seniors had their whole lives to work extra, save, invest, buy very affordable cheap homes for decades. I was the only one I knew that bought a small affordable house when I was young, my payments were $118. a month, I have not had a mortgage in over 25 years and still live in that house, now worth over $400K. Simply failure to prepare for retirement. I did it as a hairdresser, but few of my friends or co workers would bother to save.