Evicted

From Harvard sociologist and MacArthur "Genius" Matthew Desmond comes a groundbreaking work that will forever alter our perspective on poverty in America.

In this powerful and gut-wrenching book, Desmond takes us on a journey into the impoverished neighborhoods of Milwaukee, where we witness the struggles of eight families barely surviving on the edge of society. Arleen, a single mother, is trying her best to raise her two sons on a meager $20 a month after paying for their run-down apartment. Scott, a gentle nurse, is consumed by a heroin addiction that threatens to take everything from him. Lamar, a man with no legs, is struggling to work his way out of debt while taking care of a neighborhood full of boys. And Vanetta, desperate and facing financial difficulties after her hours were cut, participates in a botched stick-up.

All of these families share one common fate: they are almost destitute and struggle to make ends meet, especially when it comes to paying for rent.

Their futures lie in the hands of two landlords: Sherrena Tarver, a former schoolteacher turned inner-city entrepreneur, and Tobin Charney, the owner of one of the worst trailer parks in Milwaukee. Although they have vastly different attitudes towards their tenants, both know that “love don’t pay the bills.” Unfortunately, this often means that families like Arleen and her boys are evicted, sometimes even around the holiday season.

Evictions in impoverished areas were once rare in America, but now, most of the families who rent homes and apartments live on less than half of their income, and eviction is more commonplace than ever before, especially for single mothers. Through Desmond’s vivid and intimate prose, we get an eye-opening view of one of America’s most pressing issues. We witness the devastating effects of inequality on people’s lives as they’re forced into squalid apartments, shelters or dangerous neighborhoods. Yet, throughout it all, Desmond’s work also highlights the resilience and intelligence of these impoverished Americans.

Drawing from years of embedded fieldwork and painstakingly gathered data, this extraordinary work exposes the darker side of American society, chronicling extreme poverty and economic exploitation with exceptional depth and detail. A must-read for anyone looking for fresh ideas on how to solve this uniquely American problem, its unforgettable scenes of hope and loss remind us of the importance of home, which lies at the very heart of every family’s survival.

作者简介

MatthewDesmondisanAmericansociologistandurbanethnographer.HeiscurrentlytheJohnL.LoebAssociateProfessoroftheSocialSciencesatHarvardUniversityandCo-DirectoroftheJusticeandPovertyProject.Theauthorofseveralbooks,includingtheaward-winningbook,"OntheFireline,"and"Evicted:PovertyandProfitintheAmericanCity,"DesmondwasawardedaMac...