Every Action Has an Opposite and Equal Reaction -- Bakken, North Dakota, USA

Earlier this week I blogged about the moratoria on man-camps, suggesting unintended consequences.

Today, in huge letters across the top of the newspaper, The Williston Herald's lead story is about the rise in rent from $700/month to $2,000/month for senior citizen housing.

For most of the longtime tenants, like Mortensen – who has lived in the apartment for 20 years – the letter came as a shocking blow met with disbelief, amazement and a rising anger.

"I thought we might get a $100 raise but not that much," Mortensen said.

She and seven other senior citizens who live in the 30-unit complex met with the Williston Herald Wednesday to discuss their outrage over the situation – a situation that has left them feeling panicked, furious and, as Mortensen puts it, "homeless."

All of the seniors are in the same boat: They are on a fixed income of monthly Social Security checks, there are no other apartments available in the area and coming up with $2,000 per month for rent will be impossible.

"How do seniors pay for something like this?" said Donna Gilbert, who has lived at the complex for 23 years. "The city has it in their head that everybody should buy a house so they will stay here.

Interesting how things work out. Predictable.

Chaos is self-organizing.