Evicted

About the Author

Matthew Desmond is a distinguished sociologist, acclaimed for his groundbreaking work in understanding the complex dynamics of poverty in America. As a professor of sociology at Princeton University, Desmond has dedicated his career to uncovering the hidden realities of low-income families, particularly focusing on the systemic forces that trap individuals in cycles of poverty and eviction. His deeply empathetic and rigorous approach has garnered him widespread recognition, including the Pulitzer Prize for his seminal book Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City, published in 2016.

Beyond his academic achievements, Desmond is the founder of the Eviction Lab, an organization that collects and shares data on evictions in the United States, providing invaluable resources for policymakers, activists, and scholars. His work is not only a call to action but also a beacon of hope, challenging readers to envision a society where everyone has the security of a stable home. Desmond’s latest book, Poverty, by America, continues this mission, becoming a #1 New York Times bestseller and further solidifying his status as a leading voice in the fight against inequality.

Main Idea

In Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City, Matthew Desmond illuminates the devastating impact of eviction on low-income families in the United States. Through immersive research and compelling narratives, Desmond reveals how eviction is not just a consequence of poverty but a cause of it, creating a vicious cycle that entraps millions of Americans. By chronicling the lives of eight families in Milwaukee, Desmond exposes the exploitative practices of landlords, the failures of the welfare system, and the deep-seated racial discrimination that perpetuates housing insecurity.

Desmond argues that eviction is a uniquely destructive force in American society, tearing apart families, communities, and the social fabric itself. He challenges the notion that poverty is a result of personal failings, instead highlighting the systemic injustices that make escaping poverty nearly impossible. Through his powerful storytelling, Desmond not only documents the human cost of eviction but also advocates for comprehensive reforms to ensure that housing becomes a fundamental right for all.

Table of Contents

1. The Eviction Epidemic: Understanding the Crisis
2. Wages, Welfare, and the High Cost of Living
3. Renters’ Solidarity: A Lost Strength
4. Poverty and Evictions: A Vicious Cycle
5. The Role of Predatory Landlords
6. Racial Discrimination and Housing Inequality
7. Breaking the Cycle: Proposals for Change

The Eviction Epidemic: Understanding the Crisis

Desmond opens his exploration with a stark revelation: the United States is facing an eviction epidemic, with more families being evicted today than at any point in the nation’s history. “Evictions used to be rare in America,” Desmond writes, “but today, they are disturbingly common, occurring at a rate that even the Great Depression didn’t match.” This crisis, he explains, is fueled by a combination of stagnating wages, rising rents, and the disintegration of social support networks that once protected vulnerable renters.