Courtesy of Úrsula Alvarado
- Úrsula Alvarado, a 52-year-old Peruvian-American artist, lost her home when she got divorced.
- She moved into a studio, but was quickly priced out of Alexandria, Virginia.
- She applied to a nonprofit community and now pays $1,500 a month for a two-bed apartment.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Úrsula Alvarado, a 52-year-old Peruvian-American artist who lives in Alexandria, Virginia.
The following has been edited for length and clarity.
In 2016, I had just divorced my husband of 30 years and was forced to live at a friend's place. I was homeless.