bill would cost $200, and Sherrena refused to pay it while Patrice was living with Doreen. “I ain’t incurring shit,” she said. “They black asses are gonna incur everything, or they gonna be cold this winter.” It took the Hinkstons a couple months to save $200; during that time the back of the house, including the kitchen, was without power. Everything in the refrigerator spoiled. The family ate dinners out of cans: ravioli, SpaghettiOs.
The Hinkstons treated the refrigerator, sour-smelling and sitting tomblike in the kitchen, like they treated the entire apartment: as something to endure, to outlast. It was how they saw the mattresses and small love seat too, each deep-burrowed with so many roaches they planned to leave them all behind when they moved out. The roaches were there when the Hinkstons moved in: crawling the sinks, the toilet, the walls, filling kitchen drawers. “They were rushers,” Sherrena said about Doreen’s family. “They moved in on top of roaches.”
—
Before the Hinkstons had moved into Sherrena’s apartment off Wright Street, they’d lived for seven years in a five-bedroom house on Thirty-Second Street. It wasn’t perfect, but it was spacious and the landlord was decent. They pooled their money to make rent: $800 a month. Patrice was serving up lunch at a fast-food joint, and after dropping out, Natasha had started working too. Doreen hadn’t completed high school either, though she had learned to type seventy-two words a minute at Job Corps years back. Patrice almost finished high school, making it to the eleventh grade even after having Mikey at fourteen, but in the end she started working full-time to help the family stay afloat. At sixteen, Natasha began logging twelve-hour shifts at Quad Graphics for $9.50 an hour, sometimes falling asleep on the printing machines. They didn’t ask her age, and she didn’t offer it. Doreen’s monthly income was $1,124: $437 from a state-funded child support supplement and $687 from SSI, which she received for an old leg injury. In eighth grade, she had broken her hip on Easter Sunday—her new wedge high heels did her in—and the fracture had never quite healed. Maybe it would have if her father had rushed her to the hospital instead of keeping her home for several days. The old man hated doctors. When his knees began going out, he just sawed off a kitchen table leg and used it for a cane.
On Thirty-Second Street, the Hinkstons became a neighborhood feature. The children ran in and out of neighbors’ homes, and from her front steps Doreen got to know the other families on her block. She would rock and laugh with the grandmothers and yell at the neighborhood boys when they terrorized stray cats. When summer arrived, the children would buy bottle rockets from a neighbor and shoot them off in the street. Every so often, Doreen would host a party and invite everyone.
Then one August day in 2005, Doreen turned on the television and saw New Orleans underwater. A muddy expanse filled the city, and black bodies bobbed past folks on rooftops. She immediately called her best friend, Fanny, asking her to come over. Doreen and Fanny were shocked by what they saw on the news. “This is a total disgrace,” Doreen remembered thinking. After a few restless nights, Doreen felt called to do something more for the flood victims than fret and pray. She left Patrice in charge and boarded a southbound bus with Fanny. She was forty-one. Patrice was twenty.
It wasn’t like her to do something like this. She was a soft-humming stoop-sitter. “I don’t go no further than my front porch,” Doreen said. But there were moments along the way when she struck out against life’s current, like the January night in 1998 when she hurriedly packed up and moved the family to Illinois without telling anyone. She needed to get away from C.J. and Ruby’s father, who would go on to serve a long sentence upstate.
After two days on the bus, Doreen and Fanny found themselves in Lafayette, Louisiana. They joined dozens of other volunteers, passing out blankets and serving food.
The trip caused the Hinkstons to fall a month behind in rent. But they had been long-term tenants and their landlord was loyal. “He wasn’t sweating me,” Doreen recalled. The landlord told her to pay him back when she could. Doreen gave him extra when she had it, $100 here and there. She worked to clear her debt, but then something would happen and she’d come up short. Months
Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 1 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 2 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 3 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 4 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 5 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 6 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 7 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 8 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 9 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 10 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 11 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 12 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 13 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 14 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 15 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 16 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 17 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 18 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 19 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 20 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 21 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 22 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 23 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 24 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 25 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 26 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 27 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 28 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 29 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 30 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 31 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 32 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 33 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 34 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 35 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 36 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 37 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 38 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 39 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 40 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 41 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 42 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 43 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 44 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 45 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 46 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 47 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 48 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 49 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 50 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 51 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 52 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 53 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 54 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 55 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 56 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 57 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 58 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 59 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 60 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 61 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 62 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 63 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 64 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 65 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 66 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 67 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 68 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 69 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 70 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 71 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 72 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 73 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 74 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 75 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 76 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 77 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 78 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 79 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 80 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 81 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 82 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 83 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 84 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 85 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 86 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 87 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 88 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 89 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 90 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 91 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 92 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 93 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 94 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 95 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 96 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 97 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 98 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 99 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 100 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 101 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 102 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 103 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 104 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 105 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 106 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 107 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 108 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 109 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 110 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 111 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 112 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 113 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 114 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 115 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 116 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 117 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 118 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 119 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 120 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 121 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 122 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 123 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 124 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 125 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 126 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 127 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 128 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 129 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 130 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 131 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 132 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 133 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 134 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 135 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 136 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 137 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 138 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 139 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 140 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 141 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 142 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 143 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 144 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 145 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 146 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 147 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 148 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 149 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 150 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 151 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 152 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 153 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 154 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 155 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 156 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 157 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 158 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 159 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 160 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 161 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 162 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 163 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 164 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 165 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 166 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 167 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 168 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 169 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 170 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 171 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 172 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 173 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 174 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 175 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 176 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 177 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 178 Evicted_ Poverty and Profit in the American City - Matthew Desmond - Page 179