With rent and everyday costs skyrocketing, South Florida students need to rethink what independence looks like. Living has become so difficult that many are juggling extra shifts, cutting back on meals, social plans or staying with family longer than expected.
Derek Hill, a Florida International University student, says the pressure of paying rent has changed his daily life. “There’s been days when I’ve gone without dinner,” he said. “I’ll fall asleep anyway, but I haven’t been eating dinner for some nights.”
The housing crisis is affecting students, working families and middle-class residents across Miami-Dade. According to the report, nearly a third of renters in the county spend at least half of their monthly income on housing, making homeownership feel out of reach.
Experts say stagnant wages, high interest rates and limited housing supply are making the problem worse. Dr. Barak Bahadir, an FIU economics professor, says borrowing costs and expectations about future prices play a major role in housing affordability.
Jonathan Zamudio, another FIU student, says the cost of living has changed how he spends his time and money. “I don’t go out on the weekends anymore as I used to,” he said. “It’s like working to live in a shoebox.”
As FIU students prepare for their futures, many confront a harsh reality: in Miami, even finding a place to live can feel like a luxury.
Staying with family is no longer just a personal choice, but a financial necessity.
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As an avid lover of music, Alexander Lasa has dreamed of becoming a sound engineer since he was five years old. His love of music started at an early age, having grown up in a family that consisted of his mom, dad, and two siblings who also loved music. When he was eight years old, he built his first recording studio behind his grandmother's couch, where he could often be found listening to classical music. Some years later his grandmother gave him a tape recorder and that was the beginning of his lifelong pursuit of working in the audio industry.
Alexander attended Southwest Miami Senior High School, where he graduated with a 3.0 GPA. During his time in high school, he pursued the performing arts. He had a natural ear for music and played several instruments in the school orchestra. He easily jumped from the woodwind section to brass, percussion, and eventually to the piano. Later throughout the 80's and 90's his interest in contemporary music inspired him to experiment with synthesizers, sequencers, drum machines, guitars, and vocals. He even took a stab at acting in his high school's rendition of Luigi Pirandello's, Six Characters in Search of an Author. Additionally, he took courses at his local community college which allowed him to get a head start on his college work. He is currently a junior at Florida International University, where he is pursuing a BS degree in Multimedia Productions. He currently has a 3.670 GPA and works for the Miami-Dade Public
Nickolas Pakuris is a senior at Florida International University majoring in journalism and has a life devoted to sports and arts. After his studies, he hopes to pursue a career working with the Miami Herald and ESPN.
Paige Samuels is a senior at Florida International University majoring in Digital Media and Communications. Her interests are centered around marketing, pop culture, and politics. Samuels
aspires to work in public relations and social media marketing once she completes her studies.
Max Rosenstock is a 21-year-old Digital TV and Multimedia Production major in his junior year, originally from Coral Springs. He has a strong passion for music and the entertainment industry. After graduation, who plans to pursue a career in music, whether that means playing in a band, working in live sound, or tour managing.
