Well rent isn't an expense directly occurred while earning income. It isn't a cost of doing business.

It's hard to do any business when you're homeless. Likewise you can't do any business while you're starving.

A company's rent for their office space is considered a business expense. That's what I'm proposing for individuals. Each person is an individual "business" selling their services on the open market. Every expense that is necessary for them to be able to do that should be deductible.