On the Home Front

by Vandeka Rodgers

When I entered the rental market as a young adult, I chose to value the necessities and wants I hoped to experience as a child. That includes washer and dryer, dish washer, my own room, and a two-story house. Within the first seven months of living on my own I realized that this quality of life was unachievable at my student salary income level. Instead, I faced the stressors of affording my utility bill, buying groceries, and reducing my savings.

Soon I determined the next logical pathway in my housing journey. As I reentered the housing market, I quickly realized that housemates would be the only way to afford a balanced lifestyle. Since moving to Delaware, I have moved three times, each reducing my housing cost. With each move, the neighborhood quality also reduced significantly. Staying firm in my non negotiables, I have kept access to in-unit washer and dryers and I have learned valuable lessons to maintaining stability as a low income renter.

These lessons have reinforced the critical importance of keeping rent and utility costs as close as possible to 30% of one’s income. This benchmark is more than just a financial guideline – it’s a lifeline that creates the breathing room necessary to navigate life’s uncertainties. Disposable income isn’t a luxury; it’s a safeguard against unexpected emergencies, a pathway for planning long-term goals, and a tool for breaking free from the grip of poverty’s causes and consequences. Without this balance, the weight of living paycheck to paycheck can suffocate the ability to dream beyond immediate survival. For me, staying within this threshold has meant building a safety net, however modest, that allows for small steps toward a more secure and independent future of homeownership.

One aspect of the rental market that has shocked me is hidden fees before moving in and after moving out. I’ve paid over seven-hundred dollars in administrative fees for student housing or to “hold” my apartment. These costs did not contribute toward my monthly rental payments and I’ve come to learn that these costs that are not legally sound. Nonetheless, that was not the last of the hidden fees associated with moving. Separately, I’ve paid at least one $1,500 to maintenance associated with two apartment complexes. I have moved into apartments where the walls were scuffed, the windows were dirty, and the carpets were already stained or worn. Despite this, when I moved out, I was unexpectedly charged for ‘restoration’ and ‘repairs’—costs that seemed more like an excuse for the property management to renovate at my expense rather than an actual reflection of any damage I had caused. Why did I pay? The power imbalance between tenants and corporate rental properties left me with little choice. The fear of an eviction filing over disputed charges was a risk I wasn’t willing to take—and fortunately, I managed to avoid it.

As my fiancé and I plan our next move, together, we are prioritizing a housing budget that stays within 30% of our income while ensuring access to essentials like an in-unit washer and dryer and a community gym. However, during our house-hunting journey, I’ve realized subtle yet impactful practices that discriminate based on tenant income. High-end properties with higher income requirements demand exorbitant upfront costs, including security deposits and two months’ rent to be paid within 72 hours of approval—even if the move-in date is five months away. In contrast, lower-cost apartment complexes tend to offer more flexible payment structures that align with actual move-in dates, reflecting a greater awareness of the financial burden associated with relocating. This disparity has limited the housing options available to low-income renters.

Navigating the rental market as a low-income renter has been a journey filled with hard lessons and resilience. Each move and every sacrifice have revealed the harsh reality that achieving stable, quality housing is an uphill battle for those with limited incomes. The hidden fees, exploitative practices, and mounting financial pressures expose the systemic inequities that keep families trapped in cycles of poverty. Through these challenges, I’ve learned the critical importance of budgeting within 30% of income, prioritizing stability, and advocating for fair housing practices and programs. For example, the housing choice voucher program enables tenants to rent high-quality homes without spending more than 30% of their income on rent. Quality housing is more than a basic need; it’s a foundation for dignity, opportunity, and resources.

Vandeka Rodgers is a 3rd year education and social policy doctoral student in the College of Education & Human Development & Biden School of Public Policy at the University of Delaware. She is also involved in the Housing Literacy and Praxis Lab (HLPL).