The New York Times article: A Sight All Too Familiar in Poor Neighborhoods cites University of Wisconsin research by Matthew Desmond on trends in Milwaukee inner-city rentals for uncovering some startling insights – such as Women from largely black neighborhoods in Milwaukee constitute 13 percent of the city’s population, but account for 40 percent of those legally evicted. . Why is this demographic so prone to eviction?

Marriage is an exception among the poor, and single mothers need larger, more expensive housing than single men. At the same time, black women are more often able to get leases because they are likelier to have steady incomes, whether from work or public benefits, and far less likely to have disqualifying criminal records.

[...]

But there is also evidence that women more readily complain to city agencies about repairs, potentially angering landlords who then find excuses to evict them.

And police reports of domestic violence can backfire on women, leading some landlords to seek evictions out of fear that they will be fined for tolerating disturbances.

[...]

Tim Ballering, who owns or manages some 900 rental units in Milwaukee, said a basic problem was the growing imbalance between low-end incomes and rents. A minimum-wage worker may gross little more than $1,100 a month; a welfare recipient in Wisconsin receives $673 a month, while two-bedroom units start at about $475.

“On $673 a month, how do you buy tennis shoes for the kids, clean shirts for school and still pay your rent?” Mr. Ballering said.

I can’t imagine having to go through an eviction. Thankfully as a landlord I have never had to evict someone and during my days as a tenant never had to be evicted. Just the thought of having all of your worldly goods dumped on a sidewalk with no idea where you are going to sleep that night – let alone what you are going to do with all of your things – is not a situation I ever want to experience.

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