A Research Note on the Prevalence of Housing Eviction Among Children Born in U.S. Cities

Abstract

A growing body of research suggests that housing eviction is more common than previously recognized and may play an important role in the reproduction of poverty. The proportion of children affected by housing eviction, however, remains largely unknown. We estimate that one in seven children born in large U.S. cities in 1998–2000 experienced at least one eviction for nonpayment of rent or mortgage between birth and age 15. Rates of eviction were substantial across all cities and demographic groups studied, but children from disadvantaged backgrounds were most likely to experience eviction. Among those born into deep poverty, we estimate that approximately one in four were evicted by age 15. Given prior evidence that forced moves have negative consequences for children, we conclude that the high prevalence and social stratification of housing eviction are sufficient to play an important role in the reproduction of poverty and warrant greater policy attention.

Evictions and Neighborhood Child Maltreatment Reports

“…Therefore, families and neighborhoods receiving eviction filings are often in some of the most vulnerable economic circumstances. Recent research from parent-reported data estimates that at least 1 in 7 children born in large U.S. cities experienced an eviction because of nonpayment by age 16; among children living below the poverty line, this proportion increases to 1 in 4 (Lundberg & Donnelly, 2019). However, despite the prevalence of eviction among families with children and the acute and far-reaching consequences of this experience (Desmond, 2012b;Desmond & Kimbro, 2015), we know little about how evictions are related to child health and well-being.…”

Losing Your Home Is Bad for Your Health: Short- and Medium-Term Health Effects of Eviction on Young Adults

“…This rate is nearly identical to that found in another study in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, between 2003 and2007, that estimated 1 in 14 renter households (7.1%) were evicted annually in predominantly Black inner-city neighborhoods. Consistent with the conclusion that families with children are more likely to be evicted (Desmond, An, Winkler, & Ferriss, 2013;Desmond & Gershenson, 2017), a study using the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study estimates 1 in 7 children (more than 14%) born in large U.S. cities between 1998 and 2000 experienced at least one eviction by age 15 (Lundberg & Donnelly, 2019).…”

“…Hundreds of thousands of families in the United States are evicted every year. Women, families with children, Black families, families with low incomes, and families living in urban areas are more likely to be evicted than their counterparts (Desmond, 2012a(Desmond, , 2012bDesmond et al, 2013;Hartman & Robinson, 2003;Lundberg & Donnelly, 2019), raising concerns that eviction exacerbates existing social and economic inequalities. Although increasing inequality alone is reason to be concerned about the scope of evictions, researchers find evictions are associated with myriad other negative housing (DeLuca et al, 2019;Desmond, 2016;Sandel et al, 2018), financial (Desmond & Gershenson, Note.…”

Spatial Concentration and Spillover: Eviction Dynamics in Neighborhoods of Los Angeles, California, 2005–2015

“…Findings for gender have been more mixed; whereas women in Black and Hispanic neighborhoods in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, were at greater individual-level risk of eviction than men (Desmond, 2012b(Desmond, , 2016, percentage of women residents was not a significant predictor of eviction prevalence at the neighborhood level (Desmond et al, 2013). Households with children are also at increased risk of eviction at both the individual (Desmond & Gershenson, 2017;Lundberg & Donnelly, 2019) and the neighborhood level (Desmond et al, 2013).…”