Introduction

The rising housing crisis across California, and specifically Daly City, has become an increasingly significant issue. Young adults, immigrants, students, and the working-class have been severely affected. I wanted to research and interview individuals on this topic as this is a huge challenge I have had to battle for the first time. I had moved to the city on a scholastic grant, however that full grant wasn't dispersed, forcing me to work, stay in school, and balance other personal responsibilities. I became quickly overwhelmed, and it became clear to me that these pressures required constant effort and sacrifice. Speaking to others through this study revealed that my struggle was a shared experience that connected me to others. And rather than suffer alone, it sparked motivation.

From a sociological viewpoint, the lack of affordable housing is a symptom of broader societal inequalities. Research has shown that the burden of rising rent heavily impacts lower and middle income individuals, forcing the majority of their income toward rent (Desmond 2016). Furthermore, studies show that employment sensitivity and lack of opportunity in economic standings are directly linked to housing pressure (Joint Center for Housing Studies 2023). If large financial classes are pouring the majority of their income into rent, there is no room to escape the hole of the housing struggle. This underscores the finding that the burden of rent is a systemic issue, trapping social structures and the majority of the economy.

Methods

This study employed a qualitative approach through two semi-structured interviews. The questions were formulated and developed to understand the two participants' stress and financial burden, along with their coping strategies. The interviews were recorded informally, allowing for more personal responses and follow-up questions.

The first participant in this study is Muta, a Somali-American male in his early 20s. He currently attends college as a Computer Engineering student while also working to support himself. The second interviewee is Uncle Mohammed, a Yemeni immigrant working full-time at a local mechanics shop. Both participants live in Daly City and are constantly battling the financial obstacles related to rent.

Findings

In both interviews, the participants described rent as their most significant financial burden, determining every decision they make every day.

As a current college student supporting himself, Muta does receive financial aid from school. However, even with that support he struggles to afford rent along with basic necessities.

"Financial Aid is a great backbone for me, but I still have to DoorDash almost every night of the week just to keep up with rent."

Although college students should be focusing on studies along with having a blossoming social life, Muta has to sacrifice these luxuries in order to make rent.

"Attending class, studying, and getting good grades isn't enough for my major anymore. Projects and internships are the bare minimum, but I just don't have the time if I want to make rent."

In contrast, Uncle Mohammed's experience ties together long-term financial stress along with family responsibilities. He works 7 days out of the week at a local mechanic shop. Due to language barriers and visa issues, this is all he can work for right now.

"Most of what I make goes straight to rent. The rest is for the basics for the family."

He emphasized that he doesn't have the luxury to explore other options, and has to work with what he has.

Both participants shared similar coping methods, however. Through all these hardships, they still understand the long-term goals. Uncle Mohammed has accepted his situation as the lifestyle he lives, and there is nothing outside of that. Muta pushes through his struggles as well — but he thinks of his situation as temporary, until he graduates and gets a steady job.

Discussion

The findings match the existing research closely. Just as in Desmond's argument, we see how societal patterns around struggling households follow suit. The financial strain placed on these individuals wasn't by choice, but a necessity they must go through given their societal standing. The interviews highlight how participants adapt to their challenges and change their mindset through sacrifice and resilience. As bleak as the previous research has been, this experience surfaces real discipline in two different people who keep pushing through what they're living.

Conclusion

This study highlights the significant impact of rent struggles on individuals living in Daly City. Both parties experience financial stress, pushing them to prioritize responsibilities and make many sacrifices. However, the discipline and determination they display is nothing short of motivational.

A major limitation of this study is the small sample size, which limits the ability to generalize findings. Additionally, both participants were from similar geographic and socioeconomic contexts. Future research should include a more diverse sample and explore additional factors such as gender, age, and long-term housing outcomes. Expanding the scope of research would provide a more comprehensive understanding of housing challenges.

References

Desmond, Matthew. Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City. Crown Publishing, 2016.
Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University. The State of the Nation's Housing 2023. Harvard University, 2023.

Interview Questions

• What is your biggest financial challenge related to rent?
• How do you manage or cope with paying rent each month?
• What sacrifices have you had to make?
• How does rent impact your daily life?
• What motivates you to keep going despite these challenges?

Interview Notes (Summary)

Muta: Works DoorDash nightly, balances school and work, experiences exhaustion but remains hopeful.

Uncle Mohammed: Works daily at the mechanic shop, majority of income goes to rent, limited job options due to language and visa barriers, highly family-oriented.