> I am anxious not only for my family, but for society at large

Absolutely; I didn't mean to underplay how privileged I still am, that my worst-case scenario is spending more than I'd like to on housing or moving somewhere less-pleasant to live. Lots of people are in much worse positions right now and I'm really hoping something gives at some point. I just wanted to air/discuss the source of my own (much smaller by comparison) frustrations, given that lots of people here can probably relate.