How much of this is a result of racism or poverty is hard to say. To date, efforts to monitor and reduce housing discrimination have been almost wholly focused on getting in, not getting (put) out of housing.But the impact is lasting. Tenants who are evicted often lose not only their homes but their possessions as well, stripping them of the few assets they had. Once evicted, tenants often find themselves forced to move from one undesirable situation to another.
Despite the fact that many are one paycheck away from not making the rent, only one in four households that qualify for housing assistance receive it. Even as demand is rising, the supply of affordable units is dwindling—and rents are rising.
This article was drawn from a research report that was originally published by the MacArthur Foundation.