FREMONT — Ismael Rivera calls his new 460-square-feet, one bedroom apartment “heaven.”
The past six years have been tough for the 52-year-old. He was forced to live in his van in 2019, after his rent was suddenly raised to $2,800 — well above what he was able to affording while living on disability payments from the government. He was also dealing with diabetes, arthritis, high blood pressure and injuries to his neck, back and hands, he said.
“It just got to where I couldn’t work anymore,” Rivera said. “I didn’t expect him to hike it up that much.”…