Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City

“Evicted” is a book that explores poverty through going into the poorest neighborhoods in Milwaukee to show the relationship between poor people and rich people.

The author follows eight families from May 2008-December 2009 as they face housing instability, food insecurity, and legal problems. The book begins with a prologue, then is divided into three parts and end with a epilogue and information about the book project.

The prologue begins with introducing thirteen year old Jori as he and his cousin are throwing snowballs at passing cars. After Jori hit a man’s car with a snowball, the man gets out of the car and chases Jori. In order to protect himself from the angry man. Jori runs home and locks the apartment door. The angry man kicks the door in and after the landlord finds out, Jori and his family are evicted. After their eviction, Jodi’s mother Arleen, manages to find a new place to live at an apartment owned by black landlord Sherrena Tarver.

Part one of the book is called “Rent” and focuses on showing the lives of both those in poverty as well as the landlords who manage the properties where they stay. In this part of the book, I was particularly impressed by the transformation of Sherrna Tarver from a fourth grade teacher to an inner city entrepreneur who worked as a landlord as well as owning a credit repair business and company that gave rides to woman and families wanting to visit their incarcerated loved ones.

Part two of the book is called “Out” focuses on the aftermath of those evicted as shows how hard it is to find housing after being evicted. In addition, this part of the book shows how children are affected by housing instability in reference to their school performance and emotional development. This part of the book also brought to light radical segregation when it comes to housing in the city.

Part three of the book is called “After” focuses on how truly crushing poverty is in that they can never catch up to the debts they owe. In addition, some of those in poverty suffer from depression as well as mental instability due to having to constantly be on alert in case they are evicted once again.

The book the ends with an epilogue which provides the reader with insight on the author’s personal experience with poverty as well as what led him to become passionate about studying poverty. The final portion of the book provides information on how the author was able to obtain such personal stories as well as his process to build trust with those highlighted in the book.

I liked that the author presented stories from black and white people as well as presented people of different ages. This book is educational, insightful, and heartbreaking. I was most surprised by the toll that housing instability has on not only the person who experiences but those around the person such as friends, family, employers, lawyers, and church pastors. This book shows how the cycle of poverty can become generational and also the resilience of people who refuse to be beaten down by their hardships.

While the subject matter of this book is compelling, I can’t help but feel sorry for those who shared their stories with the author but wasn’t financially compensated. Although I don’t know how payment would help those who shared their stories, I feel the would’ve felt that they were in a partnership with the author versus a one sided relationship where they give their story and the author give nothing in return.

Facinating