Rents are very high. As much as three to four times the earning potential of local residents. "Affordable" housing is a misnomer. Unless rents come down, there will always be a huge gulf between earnings and the ability to keep a roof over one's head. Boarding houses used to be plentiful, but with all the rules, regulations and onerous costs of compliance, I don't expect that this trend will ever be reprised. People can't even afford to rent a room, which often costs what an apartment used to cost "way back." YMCAs or YWCAs in this area would help single, working people.