Eviction Crisis in America

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Eviction Crisis in America
Evictions were rare cases during the past. However, the sociologist professor, Mathew Desmond, believes that millions of poor Americans are evicted nowadays at a high rate from their homes due to their inability to pay rent. In the Diane Rehm Show, the guest host Mr. Tom Gjelten interviews Desmond regarding his book “Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City,” which talks about the issue of evictions in America and the role housing has played in deepening this situation. Roll Pendall, the director of urban housing in the urban institute is also a guest. According to Desmond, evictions are frequent in America such that about forty people from Milwaukee are forced out from their homes during summer and winter on a daily basis (National Public Radio). They are evicted because most of them do not have any housing assistance and thus, cannot afford the housing costs. Moreover, Desmond believes that eviction is not only a condition associated with poverty but also a cause of poverty. People lose their homes, possessions, communities, and children drop out of schools. Desmond contends that eviction causes people to lose their jobs because evictions are consuming, stressful and overwhelming events, which cause people to make various mistakes during work and ultimately lose their jobs. Eviction also plays a role in developing depression among people. Desmond contends that mothers evicted from their houses develop high levels of depression after two years (National Public Radio).

Therefore, summing up all these effects paint a picture of how evictions are proliferating poverty in America. Equally important, housing has contributed significantly in increasing evictions in America. Pendall believes that the housing demand is high in America due to most millennial moving out from their parents, which has caused the rents to rise significantly. The rate of inflation in America for the last two years has been ten times higher than the rest (National Public Radio). Moreover, Desmond asserts that the public housing waiting list is counted after ten years, causing suffering and pain for poor people. Consequently, most of the people are evicted since they cannot juggle the housing costs and food (National Public Radio). Indeed, this informative podcast highlights the eviction crisis facing America now. The American government should prioritize on affordable housing to reduce the rates of eviction in the country.
Works Cited
National Public Radio. “Matthew Desmond: “Evicted.” The Diane Rehm Show, 2016, NPR. one.npr.org/?sharedMediaId=469551843:469551845.