When tenants relinquished protections by falling behind in rent or otherwise breaking their rental agreement, landlords could respondby neglecting repairs. Or as Sherrena put it to tenants: If I give you a break, you give me a break. Tenants could trade their dignity and childrens health for a roof over their head. 13 Between 2009 and 2011, nearly half of all renters in Milwaukee experienced a serious and lasting housing problem. 14 More than 1 in 5 lived with a broken window; a busted appliance; or mice, cockroaches, or rats for more than three days. One-third experienced clogged plumbing that lasted more than a day. And 1 in 10 spent at least a day without heat. African American households were the most likely to have these problemsas were those where children slept. Yet the average rent was the same, whether an apartment had housing problems or didnot. Tenants who fell behind either had to accept unpleasant, degrading, and sometimes dangerous housing conditions or be evicted. But from a business point of view, this arrangement could be lucrative.
About This Quote
About Matthew Desmond
Matthew Desmond was American sociologist. Matthew Desmond is an American sociologist. He is the Maurice P. Read more on Wikipedia →