My landlord also called me directly about the increase in my rent.

He explained that his realtor says he can get $2100 a month for my apartment, but that he will only charge me $2000 a month, so he's giving me a break by $100 already. He says that keeping a tenant in the apartment longer-term is more preferable than having a high turnover rate and spending money on advertising each year, but that he also needs to make money from the rental as well. So I told him I understood and I thanked him for giving me $100 off. I also apologized for my curt sounding email when I balked at the raise in my rent.

I have got to keep positive relations with my landlord so that I can stay put. He doesn't know I lost my job and he doesn't need to know.