I grew up in Boston and saw the lives of my family and some of those around me deteriorate over time. In the early 2000's people weren't afraid of their landlords and you could have a regular job without living a diminishing quality of life. Housing supply has been artificially constricted by those with wealth. This is a phenomenon in cities like NYC an SF as well. My hometown neighborhood has become increasingly less community-oriented as more and more tech people have moved in and everything is far more expensive. I put myself through college and worked my way up, but not in tech or another super-lucrative industry. I just have a regular middle class job and the goalposts have been moved in an artificial zero-sum housing environment. I now have all the things I had and then didn't have because of gentrification - security, dignity, and some freedom. I can actually save money now and god willing I will buy my parents a place somewhere affordable so they can retire with dignity.