Back in the day, you could buy a cheap house without having to worry about crime. That ship has sailed.
That’s true, and I’m certainly not saying that our society is in good shape.
But if you can’t buy a home without incurring excessive debt, you’re far better off not buying a home. (Society is what it is. Owning a home is generally better than not owning a home, but not if you can’t afford it!)