Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City is a 2016 non-fiction book by the American author Matthew Desmond. Set in the poorest areas of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the book follows eight families struggling to pay rent to their landlords during the financial crisis of 2007–2008.

Why did Desmond write evicted?

I began this project because I wanted to write a different kind of book about poverty in America. Instead of focusing exclusively on poor people or poor places, I began searching for a process that involved poor and well-off people alike. Eviction—the forced removal of families from their homes—was such a process.

What is the purpose of evicted?

The Ellis Act (California Government Code Chapter 12.75) is a 1985 California state law that allows landlords to evict residential tenants to "go out of the rental business" in spite of desires by local governments to compel them to continue providing rental housing.

Why did Sherrena become a landlord?

After years as a teacher and a failed attempt at starting a daycare business, Sherrena decides to take on real estate, buying up properties in inner-city Milwaukee and renting them out to low-income African Americans.

What happened to Arleen In evicted?

After finding out about the damage, the landlord evicted Arleen Bell and her sons, Jori and Jafaris. Arleen and her sons moved into a shelter known as the Lodge. They later moved from house to house.

Evicted: The Hidden Homeless (BAFTA WINNING DOCUMENTARY) | Real Stories

Who is Lamar in evicted?

Lamar is one of Sherenna's tenants. He is a Vietnam war veteran and an amputee with no legs. He is also a single father to Luke and Eddy. Sherenna repeatedly threatens him with eviction, and he finally leaves after the fire in Kamala's apartment means that his building is bulldozed.

What is Desmond arguing in evicted?

Evicted Themes

Home: Desmond demonstrates the devastating effects of being denied a stable home, which he argues is not only essential for basic survival but is “the wellspring of personhood,” a place from which to pursue goals and improve one's life.

How many kids does Arleen have in evicted?

Arleen: lives on thirteenth street, she tried her hardest to make the apartment like a home. (53) She has 2 kids (54). Her favorite CD was 2pac's “Keep Ya Head Up” (54). She meets Larry and get pregnant again (57).

Does Arleen have a job evicted?

After being evicted, Arleen has three days to find a new place in freezing cold weather. She and her family are forced to move around from place to place, and her son Jori ends up going to five different schools between the 7th and 8th grades. The 90th landlord that Arleen contacts is finally able to offer her a place.

Is Arleen In evicted black?

Arleen is a black tenant and the mother of Ger-Ger, Boosie, Jori, and Jafaris. She experiences housing instability throughout the book, is evicted multiple times (including by Sherenna), and sometimes is separated from her children in the course of their housing struggles.

Why is eviction a social problem?

Eviction is psychologically scarring, but it also throws families further into poverty, destabilizing their work and family lives, often stripping them of their few possessions, and costing money — all while enriching landlords.

Who is the main character evicted?

• Arleen Bell. Arleen is a black tenant and the mother of Ger-Ger, Boosie, Jori, and Jafaris. ...
• Sherenna Tarver. Sherenna is a black landlord. ...
• Lamar. Lamar is one of Sherenna's tenants. ...
• Tobin Charney. Tobin Charney is the owner of the College Mobile Home Park. ...
• Larraine. ...
• Pam. ...
• Scott. ...
• Crystal Mayberry.

What did Desmond learn from his field work?

While conducting fieldwork, Desmond mostly resisted the urge to intervene. Still, with a deep level of involvement in people's lives, “friendships are a natural result,” he says. Immersing oneself in a community leads to relationships and reciprocity.

What are the implications of eviction for child socialization?

How Many Children Experience Eviction During Childhood? Evictions are destabilizing events that increase families' financial stress and strip away the psychological and physical security of having a home. These effects are particularly traumatizing for children, who often suffer emotionally and academically.

How old is Scott in evicted?

Scott is a white, gay former nurse in his 30s who lives in Tobin's trailer park with Teddy. He is a drug user who lost his nursing license for stealing medication and getting high at work. He and Teddy are evicted from the trailer park.

What are the main findings of Matthew Desmond research?

Combining ethnographic fieldwork with original statistical analyses, Desmond discovered that eviction was incredibly prevalent in low-income communities and functioned as a cause, not just a condition, of poverty. This work was summarized in his book, Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City (2016).

What is one reason Matthew Desmond argues for the income inequality in the US?

One reason: Public funding has trickled away from housing, leaving the supply of affordable housing miniscule compared to the need. “If we want to erase poverty,” Desmond claims, “we need to do something about affordable housing. ... Evictions don't so much reflect poverty, Desmond argues, they cause it.

How did Lamar lose his legs in the book evicted?

Lamar lost his legs after he smoked crack, passed out in an upstairs room of an abandoned house, and woke up alone the next day, unable to walk because his legs were frozen.

How many people will be evicted?

According to data from a Census Bureau survey, 6 percent of renters nationwide— more than 3.5 million people — say they are “likely” or “very likely” to face eviction, being unable to pay their full rent because of the pandemic.

What are the effects of eviction?

Evictions cause large and persistent increases in risk of homelessness, elevate long-term residential instability, and increase emergency room use.

How does being evicted affect one's employment and mental health?

In research on lasting effects from housing instability and eviction, respondents frequently report depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder as components of housing instability. ... The most effective alternative is to continue expanding just-cause eviction protections in California.

What is threat of eviction?

It gives landlords the legal pretext to remove a tenant for any reason and prevents tenants from exercising their legal rights regarding code enforcement. ...

How does an eviction affect future renting?

Eviction doesn't directly affect your credit score, but it may appear on other consumer reports and it can make it harder for you to rent in the future. Associated debts, such as unpaid rent or court fees, can show up on your credit report and lower your credit score.

How do I deal with being evicted?

1. If you receive an eviction notice, remain calm. ...
2. In the event that corrective action isn't possible, do what you can to prepare. ...
3. Find a storage space with good security to store your items temporarily. ...
4. Seek support from government agencies, friends, and families to help you find a new place to live.

Does Michigan have an eviction moratorium?

What does the end of the eviction moratorium mean for Michigan tenants? ... 26 ruled to end the federal eviction moratorium first enacted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The moratorium was extended multiple times since September 2020.