—A stark look at how important stable housing is to every aspect of our lives, and why it is out of reach for millions—
The Non-fiction Feature
Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City
Author: Matthew Desmond
Publisher: Crown Publishing Group
Pages: 448 | 2017
In fixating almost exclusively on what poor people and their communities lack–good jobs, a strong safety net, role models–we have neglected the critical ways that exploitation contributes to the persistence of poverty. We have overlooked a fact that landlords never have: there is a lot of money to be made off the poor…Exploitation thrives when it comes to the essentials, like housing and food.
The Memoir Spot
Home Boys
by Seth C. Kadish
“Ramon was the baby of the family, neglected by his hardworking mother. Jaime conceived of Ramon’s threats, stubbornness, and refusal to be put in placement as manifestations of a desire for attention, power, and control. Everyone was older, stronger, smarter, and more experienced than him. Ramon’s abusive and threatening stance was his only means to power.”
The Product Spot
The Eviction Lab at Princeton University
The Eviction Lab at Princeton University creates data, tools, and research to help neighbors and policymakers understand the eviction crisis. Run by researchers, students, and website architects, the team believes that a stable, affordable home is central to human flourishing and economic mobility.