Mexican immigrants, severely affected by the financial crisis, say that as the austerity of the economic crisis increases there is less space available to live in. They have been forced to reduce their expenses by sharing their already miniscule space in their already frugal apartments.

The Masa brothers, deciding to live together to reduce rent costs, moved to the Bronx two months ago, and now share their apartment with their wives and two other single brothers: "We came to live here together because, well, they've got their wives, and they couldn't afford to pay the rent for the house alone," says Alejandro, adding that this arrangement has left them with less individual space, but it has helped them financially.

"The rents are higher than in other years, but New York is always more expensive. The problem as I see it is that there is less work," said Masa, who left his previous apartment, located in another part of the Bronx where scarcity of space caused rent prices to skyrocket.

They are left with no tenants

In other cases, the rising rent costs sometimes ambushed people, from one day to the next, leaving them without tenants or roommates because of a lack of employment opportunities.

"For two months I had to pay the rent by myself. I was going around with empty pockets, without a cent. Thanks to the fact that I work in a restaurant, I survived, and now I've got two roommates. So, for the moment, we're all right," said Mauricio, who rents a studio in Queens with three other people.

Even with their limited space, Mauricio feels some assurance because they are not living in extremely reduced spaces, which many other immigrants are experiencing: "No, we're OK because we work different schedules; otherwise, it would be really bad. And we've got bunk beds, but other people live on top of each other," he said.