Bailey moved to Nashville, Tennessee, in 2015 after graduating from college with a degree in music business. The Indiana native dreamed of working in the music industry and becoming a singer.
"Living close to public spaces and living close to public free events — that's a huge part of the way that I've met people," the now 30-year-old said."I go to running groups, I go to farmers markets and events and, you know, you go to a farmers market with one friend, somebody runs into somebody else that they know and then you guys become friends."
Bailey, who asked that her last name not be used to protect her privacy, now works a full-time job in retail. She likes it but still doesn't make enough money to feel financially secure or live in the neighborhood she wants to. Bailey said her parents suggested she move to a suburb outside Nashville, where she might be able to buy a home. But she fears feeling isolated and lonely in a new place, far from the friends and community she spent years building.
Hughes said she felt car-dependent in her Nashville neighborhood, which didn't have shared spaces or even sidewalks and wasn't walkable to amenities like parks, restaurants, or grocery stores. And her kids had a hard time making friends in the neighborhood.