‘Never thought I’d be in this situation’: US readers on their housing realities

US readers shared their hopes for the homes they'd like to have, portraying an America where even modest housing dreams are out of reach for many

Lisa Williams is a minimalist. After her husband passed away in 2014, she was content to move into a studio apartment in Las Vegas. But when her rent increased by 25% from 2020 to 2022, she had to downsize more than she'd ever expected.

Now, Williams, 63, is a workamper", parking her 17ft trailer in national and state parks across Nevada, California and Arizona. She works as a visitor center host for 25 to 30 hours a week in exchange for an RV spot with full hookup - which can cost $800 a month or more. Williams still has to make a $210 monthly payment on her trailer, about all she can afford on her social security and pension income of $35,000 annually.