Who would have thought that Lewiston would become a place where working class people — educational technicians, like myself — can barely afford to live, due to exorbitant rent increases?

Many of us are female, over age 55, and will likely end up on welfare/Social Security — maybe. We will have to work two full-time jobs just to subsist.

Not all work is suitable for us now. Many cannot afford the technology or additional costs to work from home. Everything costs so much. We don’t get pay increases to even partially keep up with inflation.

Some friends and colleagues go without basic necessities, improvising where they can. When they originally rented their houses/apartments, they were able to keep their dogs (and cats). Now, they and their animal families are being uprooted and separated.

Some landlords are reluctant to rent to low-income people because they know we earn less than many. My rent has not increased to the point I cannot pay it yet, but that could happen any time.

Yes, homelessness needs to be addressed; there should be low-income educator housing before we are homeless, too.

We are respectable, taxpaying, voting citizens who help schools. Working class folks are being driven into poverty.

Lewiston has become a sellout to those from away, who can afford steep rental costs in any neighborhood.

It’s ridiculous.

Laurie Hearne, Lewiston

Copy the Story Link

« Previous

Sheila Richardson: ‘Aghast’ at COVID funds used fraudulently

Next »

Eric Brakey: Stop inflation by stopping runaway spending