Editing Cramped Quarters (section)

== Strategy ==
Cramped Quarters is a high-risk, high-reward choice for settlements that need to rapidly grow their workforce. The 30% population growth boost is significant and can help new towns fill housing quickly, getting production buildings staffed sooner. However, the -30% happiness penalty is one of the harshest among all choices, matching [[Taxation]] in severity.

The happiness penalty stacks with other negative modifiers. Combining Cramped Quarters with [[Taxation]] (-30%) results in a combined -60% happiness hit, which will almost certainly trigger [[Strike|strikes]]. Players using Cramped Quarters should either avoid other happiness-reducing choices or pair it with happiness-boosting options like [[Lavish Rations]] (+20%) or [[Worker Safety]] (+10%) to soften the impact.

Cramped Quarters is most useful as a temporary measure during periods of rapid expansion. Enable it when building new housing, then disable it once the population has grown to the desired level.