“Every year in this country, people are evicted from their homes not by the tens of thousands or even the hundreds of thousands but by the millions.”― Matthew Desmond, Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City**

When I first picked up Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Matthew Desmond, I had no idea what an impact it was going to have on me. This book was assigned to me for the graduate class I will be taking this semester, and since I started reading it, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it. Normally, I’m not one to reread books—there are so many I want to read and so little time—but as soon as I finished Evicted, I started rereading it. I also don’t usually buy books, preferring to borrow them from the library, but I have already purchased this one because I want to have it in my library.

The book is more than a work of sociological research; it is a piercing lens into the lives of individuals and families caught in the relentless cycle of poverty and housing insecurity. Desmond’s ethnographic approach brings to life the stark reality of poverty in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, during and after the 2007-2008 financial crisis, following eight families from diverse racial and socio-economic backgrounds. This isn’t just a book—it’s a call to witness and confront the systemic injustices that perpetuate poverty in the United States.

As someone who has worked in healthcare as a nurse and observed the barriers people face in accessing resources, Evicted forced me to look deeper at the intersection of housing and health. Desmond’s portrayal of eviction’s cascading effects—job loss, educational disruption, and mental health crises—highlighted how housing instability undermines all other aspects of well-being. I couldn’t help but think about the families I’ve encountered in my work who faced impossible choices: pay rent or buy groceries, prioritize medication or utilities. This book made it clear that housing insecurity is not just an individual issue; it’s a public health crisis.

Desmond’s meticulous research and vivid storytelling place readers inside the daily struggles of his subjects. I was struck by the resilience of families like Arleen’s, a single mother trying to provide for her children despite being evicted multiple times, and Lamar, a disabled man living in a dilapidated home while attempting to support his sons. These stories aren’t just anecdotes; they’re evidence of how deeply rooted inequities disproportionately affect vulnerable populations. The book’s exploration of how landlords profit from the desperation of tenants left me questioning the morality of a system that commodifies basic human needs.

“It was not that low-income renters didn’t know their rights. They just knew those rights would cost them.”― Matthew Desmond, Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City**

One of the most eye-opening aspects of Evicted was its examination of the role landlords play in perpetuating poverty. Desmond’s research shows how the power imbalance between landlords and tenants allows exploitation to thrive. I couldn’t stop thinking about the devastating reality that eviction isn’t just a result of poverty—it’s a cause of it. The act of losing one’s home sets off a chain reaction of instability, making it nearly impossible to escape the grip of poverty.

Reading Evicted also prompted me to reflect on the structural changes needed to address these issues. Desmond’s proposal for a universal housing voucher program is both compelling and necessary. Ensuring that families have access to safe and affordable housing is a foundational step toward breaking the cycle of poverty. The book inspired me to think critically about how public health policies could better integrate housing solutions to improve overall community health.

“The pursuit of happiness undeniably includes the pursuit of material well-being: minimally, being able to secure basic necessities. It can be overwhelming to consider how much happiness has been lost, how many capabilities snuffed out, by the swell of poverty in this land and our collective decision not to provide all our citizens with a stable and decent place to live.” ― Matthew Desmond, Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City**

This book left an indelible mark on me, not just as a professional interested in studying public health but as a human being. It reminded me of the importance of empathy and the need to amplify the voices of those who are often overlooked. Their voices must move beyond acknowledgment and become integral to shaping the conversations and decisions that affect them. They need a seat at the discussion table. The stories in Evicted are painful and infuriating, but they are also a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit.

Desmond’s work underscores a simple yet profound truth: where we live impacts how we live. Housing isn’t just about having a roof over one’s head; it’s about dignity, stability, and opportunity. Evicted compelled me to not only acknowledge the devastating realities of housing insecurity but also to consider my role in advocating for change. It’s a book that doesn’t let you look away, and for that, I am grateful to have had my eyes opened.

“It is only after we begin to see a street as our street, a public park as our park, a school as our school, that we can become engaged citizens, dedicating our time and resources for worthwhile causes: joining the Neighborhood Watch, volunteering to beautify a playground, or running for school board.”― Matthew Desmond, Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City**

Reference:

Desmond, M. (2016). Evicted: Poverty and profit in the American city. Crown Publishers.

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