August
11
2022
A Lynn resident's struggles illustrate that even a $200 rent increase can be catastrophic for Massachusetts’ poorest residents. Mother of three, Olga Valiente says she can barely manage her $1,900 a month rent, which her landlord has increased to $2,100. Her predicament is a reminder that, for the most economically vulnerable Massachusetts residents, even small increases in the cost of living can be catastrophic — no matter how reasonable the bottom line might look from the outside. Her case also casts doubt on the notion that production alone can solve the housing crisis in Massachusetts.