The cost of living in Flushing, with the rising rent, housing prices, and expenses, is putting increasing pressure on immigrants living in the area. On October 24th, the Chinese-American Planning Council (CPC) and the Flushing Community Alliance “Undo Poverty” screened a documentary called “The Cost of Living” at the Flushing Library. A new immigrant from mainland China, who has to pay $2900 in rent each month, expressed deep empathy after watching the film.
“The Cost of Living” is a documentary filmed by Sixty First Productions in Flushing, depicting the lives of three Flushing families (two of which are Chinese immigrant families) and their struggles with exorbitant rent and high costs of living. The filming locations for the Chinese families were in the heart of Flushing.
Ming-Hsiao Wu, the Queens Community Service Director of CPC, stated that these stories are very authentic and highlight the challenges faced by a non-English-speaking immigrant community with a large number of immigrants and working-class background. The film showcases the reality of these families facing economic hardship, language barriers, and soaring living costs, along with their struggles, resilience, hope, and determination. It is highly representative of the local Flushing community. After the film screening, feedback from Flushing residents will be collected to present their opinions to elected officials, policymakers, and government agencies for problem-solving and improvement.
Following the screening of the documentary, dozens of viewers engaged in discussions. Mr. He, who recently arrived from Guangdong, China, and has been in the U.S. for six months, expressed in an interview that the film is very true to life, emphasizing the high housing prices and cost of living in Flushing.
He recounted his experience of struggling to find a rental property, with his family of four walking three kilometers around the Flushing area, including Kissena Park, Corona Park, Northern Boulevard, and around Queens Hospital, in search of a place to rent. Despite their efforts, they couldn’t find a place within their budget due to high rent prices. Eventually, they settled for a rental at $2900 per month.
His landlord, concerned about his ability to meet future rent payments, demanded six months’ rent upfront and two months’ rent as a deposit, in addition to a one-month commission to the real estate agent. He ended up paying rent for nine months in advance, surprising his friends.
As a new immigrant in the area, Mr. He emphasized the importance of access to information, such as where to obtain a driver’s license, how to handle bank cards, metro cards, bus cards, and find a lawyer. Given the complex environment where newcomers are easily deceived, this information is crucial. He also expressed a need for more English classes, praising the assistance he received from CPC and the library’s free English classes.
Nevertheless, he pointed out a concern that working individuals do not have time to learn English. He fears that, in another five or ten years, the cycle of intergenerational poverty will persist, leading to repeated stories of hardship across generations. Determined to break this cycle, he has taken steps like obtaining a driver’s license, learning English, and participating in various activities.
Link to watch “The Cost of Living”: https://www.sixtyfirstproductions.com/