Matthew Desmond's Evicted: Part Three

Explain Desmond's five policy suggestions to fix the eviction crisis

1. New public housing interspersed with private housing. 2.Establish publically funded legal services for low income renters. 3.Increasing the wages of the poor. 4.Expand housing vouchers so all low-income families benefit (allow families to save income and get out of poverty). 5.Regulation of low-income housing markets.

Why does Desmond say that we have to study exploitation alongside poverty?

Exploitation contributes to poverty. Institute of housing. Landlords largely profit from low income. They make a lot of money for rents too high to pay and causes tenants to fall lower into poverty. Poverty is the result of exploitation. Poverty is expensive.

How does Desmond view Lorraine's occasionally lavish purchases?

He believes Lorraine's spends lavishly only because she is poor (her spending doesn't cause her poverty). She can't have a lot of money in her bank account since welfare would cut her off if she had a certain amount of money stored up

Explain some of the negative effects of eviction and living in substandard housing

Results in unstable housing, which means worse eviction records, making it harder to get another home, less likely to keep a job, poorer mental health, more likely to commit a crime. Substandard housing is usually in crime ridden areas with drug options, repairs are always in need, health is at risk with unsanitary conditions, meaning kids could be put at risk for child protective services. Psychological trauma: being forced from your home, blemish of an eviction on your record, psychologically draining to rush to find a place, forces evicted renters into dilapidated areas (which causes further trauma).

For Desmond, why do some low income renters wind up doing better while others worse?

Stable housing means everything. With stable housing, people are less likely to commit a crime, more likely to hold a job, and have less mental health issues. Ex: Sammy the nurse; took opioids after having a back injury; Tobin's trailer park; Evicted; got stable housing; got treatment in program; started digging himself out. Meanwhile Arleen continues cycle of eviction and unstable housing, which resulted in her continued failure.

How does the high cost of rent cause poverty?

Tenants are giving a high percentage of their monthly income to the landlords for rent, meaning that they have less money for themselves, leading to their further impoverishment.

Why does Desmond say eviction is a cause (not an outcome) of poverty?

Tenants spend most of their monthly income on rent so tenants do not have much money left over for themselves, resulting in their poverty.

What does he say about the importance of a home? What do you get when you have stable and affordable housing?

The importance of a home is foundational. People need stable housing. Housing is key. Stable homes mean less crime, more employment, less mental health problems. Ned and Sally had problems keeping their jobs. Hinkston's winter. Stable housing means less likely to commit a crime.