Thus reads an anonymously-created drawing in “ADK Housing Zine,” a project by Saranac Lake artist Erin Dorney. The zine compiles the thoughts, experiences and drawings of more than 35 renters and former renters in the Tri-Lakes area.

Dorney’s launch event for her artist book — “House Zine,” funded by a 2023 Statewide Community Regrant — served as the generative forum that led to “ADK Housing Zine.” After sharing her own housing story by reading from “House Zine,” Dorney invited renters in attendance to contribute a page to the zine and answer questions about their experiences as renters.

The event was also an opportunity for renters to be honest about their renting experiences without fear of retribution, according to Dorney.

“The stories that are going to come out in this community zine, the community and everyone who’s working on housing in the region need to hear (them). Because it’s really hard to get renters to speak openly and honestly about their experiences because often their housing is at risk.”

“ADK Housing Zine,” compiled by Saranac Lake artist Erin Dorney, was created after a meeting in the Cantwell Room at the Saranac Lake Free Library on Dec. 15 where more than 35 area renters and housing organizers shared their experiences with renting in the Tri-Lakes region anonymously. This is a follow-up zine to Dorney’s “House Zine,” released last year, which recounts her 17 years as a renter and two years as an Adirondack renter. (Enterprise photo — Sydney Emerson)

She added that many renters did not feel comfortable sharing their personal housing stories until she shared hers at the event.

“As soon as I shared my story, there was visible movement in the room toward the table where the pieces of paper were and the next 10 minutes were silent as people were writing and drawing,” Dorney said.

“ADK Housing Zine” was completed and distributed around Saranac Lake in January, with copies placed in Origin Coffee Co., Nori’s, the Saranac Lake Free Library, the Adirondack Center for Writing and Jamdots Baking Co. Dorney has even received requests for more copies, which she plans to deliver this week.

The zine features lists of responses to questions Dorney posed and full-page drawings and writings.

“How does housing make you feel?” asks the first page. Among the responses: “stressed,” “sad,” “fail as adult,” “joyful … but anxious” and “an unattainable dream.”

One anonymous renter said that they “feel lucky to be in this place” and “know better than to take it for granted.”

“I feel lucky to have my apartment. I feel lucky that I feel safe in my apartment. I feel lucky for the views of the mountains that inspire me,” they wrote. “I feel lucky for my bathroom that grows mold overnight, with crumbling ceiling tiles that embarrass me when I have guests visit. … I feel lucky to have a smoke detector after moving in 6 months ago.”

Another anonymous renter said that it was cheaper for them to live in Plattsburgh and commute to their job in Lake Placid than rent an apartment in the Tri-Lakes.

“I know that person and I know their story. But seeing it written down, about commuting from Plattsburgh, was just heartbreaking because just to think about how much time this person has spent in their car,” Dorney said.

“Why does renting feel like combat?” a third renter asked. “Why is it so stressful in this opulent country of ours to feel secure in housing?”

The final question Dorney posed to attendees was “What do you wish you could say to your landlord?” Among the responses: “Thank you for making an apartment exist when you could just not,” and “Would you accept this if this was where you lived?”

That page is one of Dorney’s favorites.

“It starts out with this very grateful tone, and that surprised me, because I was expecting more negative things,” she said. “Many of these things, they should be able to say to their landlord, but I don’t think people feel like they can. There was nothing on that list that was like, ‘You’re a bad person, I hate you.'”

Dorney plans to send copies to the Saranac Lake village Board of Trustees, the North Elba Town Council and Adirondack Roots (formerly Housing Assistance Program of Essex County) so they can hear testimonials about local renters’ experiences. She is also doing a housing-themed poetry reading on March 26 in Potsdam, where she plans to once again set out large sheets of paper for people to respond to questions about housing. If she gathers enough responses, she said, she may make a third zine.

The ADK Housing Zine is scattered across most public places in Saranac Lake. To read a digital version of the zine, visit www.erindorney.com/adk-housing-zine.

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(Editor’s note: This story is part of an ongoing, yearslong series exploring the affordable housing crisis and how it’s impacting the Tri-Lakes region. Readers who want to share their story about how the crisis has impacted them can contact our newsroom at news@adirondackdailyenterprise.com.)