i just want to be clear on the point.

it is true that i'm passing over housing because it's not non-smoking - but, i mean, getting out of the smoke is the point of the exercise. and, it's not a triviality. second-hand smoke is a dramatic risk factor for all kinds of diseases.

and, it is true that my income is lower than minimum wage.

and, it is true that the fact that i'm surrounded by idiots has left me without good references - due to no fault of my own.

but, i'm hardly the only person in this situation.

some of the ads i saw come up at the beginning of the month have taken a different turn. "working professional seeks apartment downtown for new job" has turned into "IN URGENT NEED OF HOUSING FOR SEPT 1ST".

and, this is kind of exposing a different problem altogether.

because it's one thing if a disabled person can't find an apartment here. i'm just a net drain on resources anyways, right? i think what i do has greater value than can be measured monetarily, but i concede that i don't pay taxes.

it's another thing altogether if the housing shortage (driven by the high number of refugees...) is actually making it difficult or impossible for new taxpayers to take up residence here, to take jobs or whatever else - as that creates a structural problem at city hall, and a one-way ticket to bankruptcy.

are we in such a bizarre situation that somebody coming here to take a job can't find housing because welfare recipients are sitting on all of the housing?

apparently.

but, there's plenty of brand new houses sitting empty in the suburbs.