María (MC)

María is a custodian who cleans 1047 and TDX on the Row. She lives in the city of Newark with her oldest daughter, two of her grandchildren, a grandchild’s partner, and one great-grandchild. She lived in Mountain View for 15 years before the rising cost of living pushed her out to the more affordable community of Newark, which has since become less affordable. She made the move so that she would be able to own her own home and is concerned about how her family will continue to make ends meet once she is no longer able to work and retires.

"At that time when I used to live in Mountain View, I was renting an apartment and because the prices went higher that is when I made the decision to go and get the house. Because I was buying the house was better than renting that is why I made my plan to move to Newark, but now everything is so expensive there too."

"It’s going to be tough... it’s not going to be easy in the future if life keeps going the way it’s been right now, it’s not going to be easy and I am worried about what is going to happen after I stop working. When I retire, how am I going to pay the bills if everything keeps increasing? It’s not going to be easy, that is why I don’t want to think about it. If I worry now, and then I stop working for any reason, that is going to be the tough part."

You can listen to the full interview with MC here or read the transcript here.

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