Housing Struggles for Young Adults: Resources from a Counselor

It seems basic. We all deserve at least a simple place called home that we can have peace, safety and rest.

Yet finding suitable housing can be an incredibly challenging task for young adults.

With limited experience, credit, and resources, navigating the world of housing can feel like a daunting and overwhelming process. From understanding rental agreements to managing finances and finding a place that meets their needs, it’s no wonder that many young adults find themselves feeling lost and unsure of where to start.

One of the biggest housing struggles for young adults is the high cost.

Rent prices continue to rise, making it difficult for them to find affordable options that fit within their budget. This financial strain can lead to tough decisions, such as sacrificing space, compromising on location, or even living with roommates (or a potentially questionable partner) to share expenses. It’s a constant juggling act of weighing affordability against their desired living conditions.

If you had to choose between debt and eating hard boiled eggs all week to make rent, or living with someone who isn’t ideal, a lot of young adults would choose the latter to not have to immediately suffer.

This can lead to a difficulty in leaving the situation and even relationship abuse or violence if it’s perceived there is “no other option.”

With hardly any affordable housing available out there, whether it’s renting or owning, it can make starting out the rest of your life as a young adult, downright disappointing. It might even feel like everything you were taught growing up was a lie (that whole preparing for adulthood thing). And, it can also make you really feel the chill of the world when it feels like it turns its back on you. Yeah, housing struggles for young adults are indeed a daunting and widespread issue.

Another challenge is the lack of knowledge and experience in navigating the housing market.

Many young adults are entering this realm for the first time, with little understanding of the intricacies involved. From understanding rental applications and credit checks to negotiating leases and understanding tenant rights, there’s a steep learning curve that can be overwhelming and confusing.

Additionally, the emotional toll of finding housing should not be underestimated.

Every time you find a rental, you have to apply. It costs money and you need good credit. You also need first and last month’s rent typically, which a lot of young adults have zero dollars in their savings (because of rent costs!).

To get denied over and over on an application can be hard on your soul and make you want to give up. If you have pets, it’s even harder to get approved.

The pressure to find a safe and comfortable place to call home as a young adult can create anxiety and stress.

Young adults may feel a sense of urgency to secure housing, fearing that they will be left without a roof over their heads. This emotional strain can further complicate the decision-making process and leave them feeling overwhelmed.

On top of all of that, the landlord only needs to give you 30 days when they decide they are done with the rental or want to sell the property. 30 days isn’t enough time to get a new place with all the problems and gatekeeping by landlords we just mentioned. In fact, I think my cortisol levels just increased just thinking and writing about all this!

As a counselor, I understand the challenges young adults face when it comes to figuring out housing. I’m here to provide guidance and support throughout this journey. Together, we can explore resources and programs that offer affordable housing options, discuss strategies for budgeting and saving, and develop the necessary skills to navigate the housing market successfully.

It’s important for young adults to remember that they are not alone in this process. Seeking advice from professionals, reaching out to housing agencies, and connecting with peers who have gone through similar experiences can provide valuable insights and support. By tapping into available resources and building a network of support, young adults can gain the confidence and knowledge needed to navigate the complexities of finding housing.

Some actionable steps if housing problems are stressing you out as a young adult:

Find a mental health support now (your advocate)
Download a free budget app to get ahold of daily spending
Make time for you (free yoga class, journaling time, a walk with your pet)
“Secretly” plan (if you’re in a tough living situation with another person, find a way to start saving, however small at first, so that you’re ready when the opportunity to move presents itself)
If income is the problem, lean into that side job or side gig and see if you can alleviate some of that stress to start saving for later
Try a social media detox (watching the unreal stories and images on social media can deviate you from your goals because you think you see people your age at the top of their success and start discrediting your own life and progress – remember, you can’t see what’s behind their facade – keep working on you!)

Figuring out housing as a young adult is undeniably challenging. However, with the right guidance and support, it is possible to overcome these obstacles.

By acknowledging the difficulties, seeking assistance, and staying resilient, young adults can successfully navigate the path to finding suitable housing. Remember, you are not alone in this journey, housing struggles for young adults are a hude deal. There are resources available to help you along the way. My door is always open!

About Katie Peek | Peek Counseling in Denver for Young Adults

I get it! I’ve been there. It felt like moving mountains to get into a living situation that worked and that we could afford, and then another mountain when we outgrew that space (but nothing was available that we could handle financially!).

While housing struggles affect nearly all of us because of the cost, I can tell you, that little by little, you can figure it out and your current situation does not have to be the final or only one.

If you’ve been struggling with these issues, or how to get out of a housing situation that’s unhealthy or not working for you, please reach out. We can work on it together to help you improve your mindset so that you can take action to get you to your end goal.

Here for you. ~ Katie

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