This story was originally reported by Eden Turner of The 19th. Meet Eden and read more of her reporting on gender, politics and policy. After she moved into her first apartment in 2021, a one-bedroom unit in East Baltimore, Saj Dillard realized her rent wouldn’t have gotten her much once her lease ended.
After she moved into her first apartment in 2021, a one-bedroom unit in East Baltimore, Saj Dillard realized her rent wouldn’t have gotten her much once her lease ended. The recent college graduate wanted to grow her capital, build wealth and have the chance to own something. So, she set a goal for herself — when her monstera plant, lovingly named Big Birtha, grew too large to move up flights of stairs to a new apartment, she’d know it was time to find a house to call her own.
So, she set a goal for herself — when her monstera plant, lovingly named Big Birtha, grew too large to move up flights of stairs to a new apartment, she’d know it was time to find a house to call her own. “I thought to myself, ‘I’m just giving these people money and I’ll have nothing to show for it when I leave,’” Dillard said.