many were unprepared and bewildered when the sheriff came knocking. Some claimed never to have received notice or pointed out, accurately, that the notice did not announce a date or even a range of dates when the eviction would take place. The deputies would shrug. They figured the tenants were just playing the system, staying as long as they could. Dave’s assessment was subtler. He thought a kind of collective denial set in among tenants facing eviction, as if they were unable to accept or imagine that one day soon, two armed sheriff’s deputies would show up, order them out, and usher in a team of movers who would make it look like they had never lived there. Psychologists might agree with him, citing research showing that under conditions of scarcity people prioritize the now and lose sight of the future, often at great cost. Or they might quote How the Other Half Lives, published over a century ago: “There is nothing in the prospect of a sharp, unceasing battle for the bare necessities of life to encourage looking ahead, everything to discourage the effort….The evil day of reckoning is put off till a to-morrow that may never come. When it does come…it simply adds another hardship to a life measured from the cradle by such incidents.”3
Then there were cases that didn’t require any sort of psychological sophistication, cases where landlords purposefully conned or misled tenants.
Dave told Brontee, the rookie, to climb through a window of the baby-blue house and let them in. Inside, they found a Dell computer, a clean leather sofa, and new shoes lining the closets. Someone had left the television on. Dave pointed to the show playing on it and laughed. “Martha fucking Stewart!”
A few minutes later, an older-model Jaguar, forest green, pulled into the driveway. Four young black men hopped out.
“What is going on?” one asked.
“You’ve been foreclosed,” John replied, holding up the paper.
“What? We just paid rent this month! Lord, have mercy.”
One of the men marched straight into the house and quickly emerged cradling a shoebox. He held the box with both arms, the way a running back protects the football when the call is up the middle, then locked it in the Jaguar’s trunk.
The sheriff deputies stepped away to confer. “These people got screwed,” John told his partner. “The landlord took their rent but didn’t pay the mortgage.”
“Yeah, but John, this is a drug house,” the other deputy replied.
John raised his eyebrows, and the sheriffs started for the kitchen. Tim was there, assembling boxes.
“Tim, this a drug house?” John whispered.
Without a word, Tim pulled out a kitchen drawer, as if he had been in the house before. Inside were small Ziploc bags and razor blades. The deputies looked at each other. Sometimes in situations like this, when a landlord foreclosure caught tenants completely unawares, John would refuse to carry out the judge’s order that day, buying tenants more time. But he decided not to stop this one and not to ask to see what was in the shoebox.4 Narcotics wasn’t his beat, and he thought the faultless foreclosure was punishment enough.
The next stop was a “junk in.” The one after that was quick. The old black man didn’t have much. “Man, this makes no sense,” he kept saying as one of the movers dumped the contents of his bedroom dresser into a box. As Dave headed to the van for the next job, he pointed to the man’s pile of possessions, now slick with rain, and told John, “Some people paint on canvases. This is my art.” The pile at the next eviction was even more impressive. It included a half-eaten birthday cake and a balloon still perky with helium.
—
Larraine had grown up with two brothers and two sisters in a squat, yellow-brick public housing complex across the street from a baseball field in South Milwaukee. Her mother was an invalid, her body swollen on account of her thyroid. Her father was a window washer. Larraine remembered him bringing home bags of Ziegler Giant Bars, when he washed the windows of the candy factory, or armloads of fresh bread, when the day’s schedule took him to certain local restaurants. Larraine loved her childhood, especially her doting father. “We didn’t know we were poor,” she said.
Larraine had struggled in school. In tenth grade, she decided she’d had enough. “Everyone around me was making it but me.” She dropped out and began working as a seamstress for $1.50 an hour. She went to work at
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