On the other hand, in a city where the average rent is 3600 dollars, if one does not rely on Divine Providence, it is really difficult to survive.
Welcome to the New York real estate market, a city where in the first quarter of this year the average rent reached the absurd figure of $3,616 per month. Data from Realtor.com indicates a +20 percent increase compared to the average price – which was already far from popular – at which one could find a rental home before the pandemic. A situation simply unsustainable for the vast majority of people. Some of these people, in order not to pack their bags and leave the city, have found a decidedly original solution: to live with the nuns.
Convents and women’s religious residences indeed offer rooms at prices that are a mirage in the private market of the Big Apple. Katie Rettig, one of the girls who chose this path, tells the Wall Street Journal that she paid about $1,650 per month at Sacred Heart and just $1,200 at St. Mary’s Residence. And with a bit of research, even better options can be found: St. Agnes Residence, in the heart of the Upper West Side (one of the most sought-after areas of the city), offers rooms starting at $950 per month. The Maria Center in the Bronx even goes down to $800. “The nuns are fantastic,” Katie Rettig said, “they just keep to themselves”. The vast majority of these facilities accept non-Christian guests and do not impose participation in any religious functions or collective prayers. There is no attempt at conversion; only maximum openness and respect for the faith, habits, and traditions of the house are requested.
Of course, it’s not all roses and sunshine. Living in a convent means accepting strict and ancient rules designed to ensure the safety and tranquility of all. The facilities are strictly for women only, which means that entry is prohibited for men and visits are heavily restricted: no boyfriends or friends can go up to the bedrooms. Additionally, there is a curfew, with very strict return times in the evening (usually between 11 PM and midnight). If you’re late, you stay out. Added to this are a “decent and modest” dress code to be observed in common areas, an absolute smoking ban, strong limitations on alcohol, strict adherence to silence in the evening and early morning, and the obligation to clean one’s own room (as well as taking turns caring for shared spaces). Furthermore, before being admitted, one must pass a real interview, either in person or via video call, with the Mother Superior or the head of the facility. We know what you’re thinking: I’d rather go back home to my parents, live in a hovel, or be taken in by Trappist monks, at least they have good beer.
