The Pioneer, Vol. 53 Issue 2

level of which the rent can be increased.”
He described a time when he was 22
years old, was divorced and moved into
an apartment as a single dad on a tight
budget. He was alarmed when his landlord
gave him an increase of $50 on rent,
with one month’s notice.
Living on your own without any help
from family or friends can be difficult in
any situation. Teston said requirements
to get an apartment didn’t align with the
cost of the apartment because residents
must make three times more than the
monthly rent. “It is attempting to survive,
that’s the best way to describe it,” he said.
“It puts shackles on people that want to
go to school with those requirements.”
As a communication manager in
Lakewood, Trini Balles said she must
abide by specific codes that take a lot to
maintain the property, which includes
522 units. “Residents don’t anticipate an
increase in rent and the increase is based
on the market and what everyone else is
charging,” said Balles. “Landlords have
to keep some sort of renewal process to
sustain the property and market control.”
Balles has been in the housing industry
since 2002 and managing apartments
across Pierce and King county. She makes
herself accessible to residents either in
“IT IS ATTEMPTING
TO SURVIVE, THAT’S
THE BEST WAY TO
DESCRIBE IT. IT PUTS
SHACKLES ON PEOPLE
THAT WANT TO GO TO
SCHOOL WITH THOSE
REQUIREMENTS,” -
SAID ERIN TETSON,
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
MAJOR.
person or via email based on
her past experiences with apartment
living; but she expects her
residents to be consistent with
the lease. “Having the same
communication is huge to having
a good relationship with the
landlord or property manager,”
she said.
With the population in Washington
State nearing eight million people, the
demand for affordable housing increases.
The average monthly apartment cost in
Lakewood is $926. For many full-time
students working part-time, this cost
causes an unbearable burden and limits
their access to housing. How can apartment
managers and leasing companies
ensure they are able to make a profit
while meeting the needs of a financially
diverse population?
Features
November. 2019 / Vol. 53, Issue 2 piercepioneernews.com / 15