Aujamari Cook, a medical assistant and mother of two, found herself unexpectedly needing to move in late 2021, after the rented home in Renton where she had been staying with relatives was put up for sale. Pregnant with her second child, Cook managed to find an affordable Burien apartment big enough for the three of them, in a location that would work for Cook’s commute and the kids’ school and day care. But the costs associated with the move — deposits, first/last month’s rent, moving expenses — were overwhelming for Cook’s tight budget.
