Families

Welcome to a classic American family. They’ve outgrown their quarters and are anxious and excited about moving up to a larger rental.

Rivers, his wife, their daughter and her 3-month-old child could stand some space to spread out – along with a nephew they recently took in to provide a more stable home.

But the prospects for this simple wish coming true seem dim.

Standing in the way:

• A limited income.
• The Section 8 subsidy that helps immensely with the rent bill, but that any potential new landlord can legally ignore as counting toward their ability to pay — effectively eviscerating their budget and immensely handicapping their search.
• A single car for everyone to share.
• Their race — Rivers strongly suspects.

Even the pets, green- and yellow-feathered birds Cleo and Leo, add to the baggage.

Everything seems serene and perfect at first. And for the most part, it is. Rivers’ family is a loving, content and close-knit one. But everything

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