Navigating the High Cost of Housing | National Geographic

(traffic passing by)
[Man] The hardest part was just kind of feeling like I was a failure. (building music) Why am I sleeping here with my kids in my car? (soft music)

We've seen a great shift in the last few years as we came out of the recession where it's not the job issue anymore; it's the housing prices. People who have been born and raised here, generations, are finding themselves homeless. And it's just families getting pushed out. It has nothing to do with income or jobs. It's just the doubling of rent.

Well, my wife works for a dental. My brother's a general manager for Shell. Even with that, we still find it hard to even get a place to live. 'Cause we got jobs, so since we got income, we can't qualify for programs that consider us homeless. Two-bedroom apartments that are like almost $1900—Is that something that we can afford? No.

Without any changes, we don't see this problem getting any better in the near future.

[Darrick] Eva, come on. Come on, look at me. Ay, bye-bye.
Bye-bye.

[Darrick] We had an apartment. We were doing good.

[Lola] We had become good friends with our landlord, and they were selling to a realty company. They were basically just interested in freezing us out. We decided it was time to leave.

The places that we were finding wanted like three times the rent or they wanted a 650 credit score or above. We didn't have that going on.

The motels were first. We went to the motels and tore through our savings. So then we went to the emergency shelter, and it was just a tailspin at that point. What we did discover is that being in a car was far better for us as a family than being slopped in with people, kind of pressed against us.

So my thoughts, I was like oh my gosh, I'm gonna sleep in my car, and it's gonna be all of these weirdos, but then I got there and it's just, they're just people, they're just going through the same thing I was. All right, love you guys. See you later.

[Lola] Darrick has almost always had a job.

When I started working at the drug treatment facility, I'd get up at five, get ready, and then I'd leave the lot and I wouldn't get back 'til like three o'clock. I was always tired. There were people depending on me. I can't just sit and wallow and be sad. I have things I have to take care of, and I want my family to be happy and I want to be happy. We were in and out of the car for I think about four years. It wasn't the best experience at all times, but there were some great memories.

[Lola] We would drive to a nearby park and I got to watch the sun rise. Say good morning to the whole city. It felt hopeful in those moments.

Hi! I'm Mimi.
And I'm Lola.

So we're here at the library. Well, every single day was kind of different.

[Daughter] Home is where you live. Home is where you will be passion-able.
[Daughter] Home, I don't know, cars.

Well, I've been here almost five years and I just like to see when people come into this place they get a place to call their own, and I have a little happy dance that I do for them. I say, ♪ I'm so proud of you ♪ ♪ I'm so proud of you ♪ And that's it, and then I jump up and down. (laughing)

We moved out of the car and I really like this place, so it's kind of cool.

14, 15, 16. Ready or not, here I come. Found you. (laughing) I think we're still kind of getting used to it. (laughing) Every once in a while I wake up I go oh, whoa, whoa, there's not a roof right here. What's going on? We got lucky. (yelling) You're fine! You're fine.

Yay. ♪ I believe I can fly ♪

Yeah, we've had ups and downs, we just need to get through it. Band together. (yelling) (soft music) Can you hold it? My dad used to do this. He'd go, you'll know when it's ready, when it sticks to the wall.

[Mom] So what was your favorite part of today?
My favorite part is when me and Mommy went to do laundry.

Well, I liked doing lessons with you; I thought you did good today. What about you?
I think this is the highlight of my day. We all hang out and have dinner together.
Yeah.

People should understand about the situation is it could happen to anyone.

Hi, guys.
At the last second, I veered. How you doing? Good. Nice to see you.

Things are going good?
Yeah, they're going good. We miss you. We miss saying hi to you.
Okay.

And having a sense of community.
And, go.

It's kind of bittersweet in a way. But at the same time, it's a relief, too. When we first left, in our apartment, it was too quiet. We were all like.
Yeah.
I don't hear any traffic.
Yeah, we didn't hear any. It sounds like the ocean to me. For the most part, it was a positive experience. Because we just chose for them to be. Yeah?

When are we gonna leave? I don't wanna be here so long.
[Woman] Would you like your phone?
No.
[Woman] You wanna go sit in the car with dada?
No.
Hey, are you afraid that we're gonna be staying here?
Yeah.
We're not staying here, honey. We're going back to our apartment. (soft music)

♪ Somewhere over the rainbow ♪
♪ Way up high ♪
♪ There's a land that I heard of once in a lullaby ♪
♪ Some day I wish upon a star ♪
♪ Wake up where the clouds are far behind me ♪