I've worked with many small businesses (and currently work for one), and there genuinely is a feeling of hopelessness. We lose people all the time because they simply aren't paid enough to survive unless they're basically wage slaves (after rent, bills, and ramen noodles, they're left with nothing).
I've seen the books of the company I work for. They quite literally can't pay people any more than they do without raising rates so much that they nuke the business.
That raises the question – where the fuck is all is the money going?
Like, the “labor shortage” is bullshit, the unemployment rate is the lowest it's been in decades.
The only thing I can think of is a hard rent cap in every city?