When I moved to Cambridge in 2014, I made a bit over $25k a year and lived very comfortably. I was my only source of financial support, and had student loans and bills to pay, but was able to afford housing in Harvard Square with a roommate. Rent was high but I just monitored my spending and saved a little each month.

The relocation literally a few blocks away and on of the same street and the new low-income housing is MUCH nicer than what was at the edge of HBS. You make it sound a lot worse than it was.

Harvard has several programs where students “serve” others - one is called dorm crew, which is cleaning the dorm bathrooms for fellow students. It can work at Harvard.