Girl cooks, eats and sleeps in office bathroom amid skyrocketing house rents

An 18-year-old Chinese girl, Yang, lives in a public bathroom due to unaffordable rents. Her story highlights the global urban housing crisis affecting cities like Mumbai and Bhubaneswar.

Girl cooks, eats and sleeps in office bathroom amid skyrocketing house rents

Girl cooks, eats and sleeps in office bathroom amid skyrocketing house rents

time

In a startling example of the housing crisis affecting many parts of the world, an 18-year-old Chinese girl named Yang has made a public bathroom her home. Driven by unaffordable rents, Yang has turned this tiny, unconventional space into a place where she cooks, eats, and sleeps.

Her story has caught the attention of people not only in China but also in countries like India, where urban housing has become increasingly unaffordable for the average citizen.

Yang’s decision, while shocking, reflects a broader crisis—rising real estate prices and rental rates that far exceed the earning capacity of young people, students, and low-income workers. In many major Indian cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Bhubaneswar and Bangalore, affordable housing remains a dream for millions.

Urban Plan & Housing Policies

The gap between income levels and rent has widened so much that people are forced to either share cramped rooms or live in substandard conditions.

Yang’s situation has become a mirror for societies across the globe, questioning the priorities of urban planning and housing policies. Her life inside a bathroom is not just a personal struggle but a symbol of how economic pressures and real estate speculation can force vulnerable individuals into extreme situations.

This case serves as a wake-up call. Governments and urban planners must focus on affordable housing and rent control mechanisms. Without swift action, more young people may find themselves making similarly desperate choices—compromising dignity and safety just to survive.

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