[epistasis]

As somebody in Santa Cruz, good ducking luck actually getting that house.

Finding a place off Craig's list is nearly impossible.

Last time I tried to use that (5years ago), the only call-backs I got from about 20 calls were landlords that recognized my name and I had known from other contexts (I've lived here a while). I ended up getting a place through other personal connections. Most local rentals operate on a network of personal connections here, with locals offering friends or other locals a deal to get by in an expensive town. Students never get this treatment, and often don't even get shown rooms.

For a grad student arriving without an extensive network, a room for $1700 isn't too bad.

The university has abandoned these students, and so has the town.