Housing in this game has been one long disappointment for me. The original group of friends I joined with back in HW all left due to the fact that housing was heavily advertised as a feature but actually getting one for our FC proved impossible. By the time I finally did manage to snag one, they'd all moved on to other games and not one of them came back.

Many band aids later and we're still in a position where there is an acute shortage. I really thought the Firmament might put instanced housing alongside the present ward system, but no, we just got more of the same.

The lottery has been a complete disaster from the outset and while it makes competing for the extremely limited number of houses fairer, it does not solve the underlying issues.
The Island Sanctuary just adds insult to injury. Apparently they do have the resources to give everyone a private instance, but they've made one that won't give us housing (the thing most players actually wanted).

I really do not understand the devs at this point. They know what players want but for reasons I cannot fathom they seem determined not to provide it.