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Matthew Desmond: Defending Home

UH Better Tomorrow Speaker Series2022-04-26
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💫 Short Summary

The video discusses the affordable housing crisis in Hawaii, focusing on the struggles faced by many in affording homes on the islands. It emphasizes the need for new solutions to protect renters and preserve family structures, with thought leaders addressing the challenging issues. Professor Matthew Desmond's research on evictions and housing instability in America is highlighted, shedding light on the economic impact of the pandemic on housing affordability. The discussion calls for bold solutions like expanding housing choice voucher programs to combat poverty and stabilize families, advocating for affordable housing as a fundamental right in America.

✨ Highlights
📊 Transcript
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Importance of affordable housing in Hawaii.
03:28
Emphasis on the struggles many face in affording a home on the islands.
Highlighted the need for new solutions to protect renters and preserve family structures in the community.
Thought leadership brought in to address difficult issues Hawaii faces regarding housing affordability.
Stable housing stressed as fundamental to human flourishing and vitality, making it a right that should be ensured in the country.
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Collaboration Event Highlights
05:12
The event is supported by the University of Hawaii, Hawaii Community Foundation, and Kamehameha Schools to elevate conversations on important topics.
Audience participation is encouraged through questions during the discussion.
Senator Stanley Chang, known for affordable housing advocacy, introduces the speaker and emphasizes global efforts to find solutions.
The event aims to create an engaging atmosphere and foster dialogue on pressing issues through collaborative efforts.
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Research on eviction and residential instability in America by Professor Matthew Desmond.
08:57
Eviction Lab founded by Desmond to collect national eviction data, highlighting poverty and housing challenges.
'Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City' by Desmond won the Pulitzer Prize, focusing on the housing crisis.
Hawaii faces housing affordability issues with low homeownership rates, high rental rates, and soaring house prices during the pandemic.
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Impact of evictions on families and children.
11:26
Emphasis on the human cost of routine business transactions like evictions.
Need for major action to end housing shortage in Hawaii and prevent tragic evictions.
Research aims to understand America's inequality problem through eviction.
Desmond's personal experience living in a mobile home park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to study the issue firsthand.
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Speaker's experience with evictions in Milwaukee's inner city.
14:03
Speaker worked with landlords to gain insight into the housing market.
Conducted surveys with over a thousand renters in Milwaukee to explore homelessness and eviction experiences.
Frustrated by lack of data on evictions, the speaker collected valuable statistical data to bridge personal experiences with research efforts.
The speaker's team worked diligently to gather information on landlord-tenant relationships.
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Study on Eviction Process and Patterns
17:20
The speaker collected eviction records and conducted surveys to understand reasons for evictions despite rent payment.
Emphasis was placed on community engagement and data analysis from various sources.
A book was written based on the eviction experiences of eight families from diverse backgrounds.
One story highlighted a mother resorting to armed robbery during the recession to make rent.
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Arlene's eviction leads to worsening living conditions.
19:05
Arlene and her sons were evicted after a snowball incident caused property damage.
They lived in a homeless shelter and later in a rundown apartment complex.
Eviction can lead families to search for housing in unsafe neighborhoods.
The story of Arlene highlights the desperate consequences of eviction and the struggle for affordable housing.
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Housing costs consume a large portion of income for many Americans.
21:55
Arlene in Milwaukee struggles to pay $550 in rent, which is 88% of her welfare check, leaving little money for essentials.
Many Americans aim to spend 30% of their income on housing, but this goal is becoming harder to reach.
Census data reveals a decrease in the percentage of poor renting Americans meeting the affordability standard over the past 20 years.
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Financial strain on renting families due to high housing costs.
23:11
Many families spend over 50% of their income on housing expenses.
Evictions often occur due to financial difficulties, not irresponsibility.
Incomes have not increased in line with rising housing costs.
The gap between income and housing expenses is shrinking, causing challenges for families.
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Challenges in Accessing Housing Assistance
25:41
Only 25% of qualifying families receive Section 8 vouchers, leaving the majority without support.
Waiting lists for public housing in some cities span decades, making affordable shelter difficult to obtain.
Arlene's experience showcases the challenges faced by low-income families, including long waiting periods and potential rejections.
The narrative highlights inadequate government assistance for housing, portraying individuals like Arlene as representative of the struggles many face in securing stable housing.
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Impact of Evictions in Milwaukee
28:21
Staggering number of people evicted annually in Milwaukee leading to instability.
Lack of federal data on evictions prompted the creation of the Eviction Lab to collect and publicize eviction records.
Eviction Lab has gathered over 100 million eviction records nationwide and made the data accessible to the public.
Tracking evictions during the pandemic and government's historic intervention in addressing the eviction crisis praised.
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Impact of eviction moratorium during transition from Trump to Biden administration.
30:38
Eviction moratorium saved lives and kept rates below national average.
$46 billion federal aid allocated for debt payments led to quicker recovery for families.
Eviction rates not only a problem in expensive cities but also in average-cost cities and rural communities.
Highlights widespread issue of evictions across the country.
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Landlords use unethical methods to evict tenants, bypassing the court system, such as shutting off utilities or making false reports.
33:11
Evictions have a significant impact on family stability and community well-being, underscoring the importance of reducing them for societal benefit.
Black women face disproportionately high eviction rates, with one in five reporting eviction compared to one in fifteen white women, highlighting racial disparities in housing stability.
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Impact of Incarceration and Eviction Crisis on Low-Income Communities.
35:10
Disproportionate burden on low-income African-American communities, particularly women, due to incarceration.
Eviction crisis affecting various communities, including poor white areas, highlighted.
Case study of Arlene facing eviction and seeking shelter due to domestic violence discussed.
Challenges of finding affordable housing with an eviction record emphasized, hindering access to rental opportunities.
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Discrimination against families with children in housing market.
38:36
Families facing housing rejections due to children being seen as a problem, despite laws against age discrimination.
Arlene struggles to find a landlord willing to rent to her and her family, eventually getting evicted after two months.
Despite challenges, Arlene tries to create a sense of home in the new place by personalizing it and setting rules.
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Impact of Eviction on Mental Health and Well-Being
40:10
Research indicates that having children increases the chances of facing eviction judgments.
Eviction can result in severe mental health issues such as depression and suicidal thoughts.
The consequences of eviction go beyond housing problems and can affect the overall well-being of individuals and families.
The narrator hopes for a brighter future where they can create happy memories with their grown children.
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Eviction has far-reaching consequences including loss of home, community, belongings, job loss, and stress.
44:01
It can perpetuate poverty by preventing access to good housing and safe neighborhoods.
Evictions are not just a result of poverty but also a cause, impacting future generations.
Addressing the housing crisis is crucial in fighting poverty in America.
Providing affordable housing, such as through housing vouchers, can improve family stability and well-being.
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Access to basic affordable housing as a fundamental right in America.
46:49
Progress has been made in improving housing conditions, but there is still room for improvement.
History of slums and poor living conditions highlights the importance of addressing housing issues.
Recognizing stable shelter can help tackle issues of poverty, homelessness, and racism.
Basic idea that deserves reflection and action for a better future for all Americans.
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Expanding the affordable housing choice voucher program is a bold solution to the housing crisis.
49:24
The program would allow individuals to pay 30% of their income on rent while the voucher covers the rest, impacting poverty and stabilizing families.
Implementation of the program could transform poverty in America and alleviate the housing crisis in states like Hawaii.
Concerns about potential disincentives to work need to be addressed with research and careful consideration.
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The importance of providing stable and affordable housing to families to help them reach their full potential and contribute to society.
51:59
The estimated cost of a universal housing program is around 22-35 billion dollars, which is manageable given existing homeowner tax subsidies.
The current housing assistance system in the U.S. favors the wealthy over the needy, with billions spent on direct housing assistance for the poor.
It is noted that the U.S. already has a universal housing program, but it primarily benefits those who are not in poverty.
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The U.S. spent $171 billion on homeowner tax subsidies, with most benefits going to high-income families, exacerbating racial and economic inequality.
54:20
Housing policy amplifies disparities, favoring white Americans over black and Latinx individuals.
The speaker advocates for honesty in public spending and acknowledges the prioritization of the wealthy.
Solving the housing crisis requires diverse approaches tailored to specific regions.
The current level of inequality and denial of basic needs is unjustifiable and contrary to American values, calling for a collective effort to address social suffering and maximize human potential.
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Legislative efforts to address affordable housing and homelessness in Hawaii.
57:20
Proposals include allocating funds for Hawaiian homeland, rental housing, and transitional housing programs.
Plans aim to support homeless families and extend housing assistance duration for low-income families.
Initiatives include increasing monthly allowances for extremely low-income families with children.
These efforts are part of ongoing attempts by the Hawaii State Legislature to combat housing costs and homelessness.
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Hawaii plans to use $2.86 billion from the infrastructure investment and jobs act for affordable housing development.
59:33
The focus is on identifying necessary infrastructure for building affordable housing and collaborating with different entities to achieve this goal.
The goal is to tackle housing issues and create a substantial impact, which will require ongoing funding for several years.
Housing instability has a significant impact on life expectancy, especially for individuals without homes, emphasizing the importance of addressing this issue to improve overall health outcomes.
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Impact of raising the minimum wage to a living wage.
01:04:06
Positive effects include reduced smoking, child abuse rates, and longer sleep for workers.
Emphasis on the moral necessity and life-giving aspect of fair wages.
Historical evidence shows that housing costs often rise to offset increased wages.
Reference to labor unrest in the 1830s as an example of this phenomenon.
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Impact of Minimum Wage Increase on Housing Prices.
01:05:14
Economic studies have shown that raising the minimum wage can lead to an increase in housing prices.
Raising the minimum wage alone is not enough to address income inequality, and a multifaceted approach is needed.
Proposed solutions include building more housing, expanding vouchers, and collaboration between education and housing systems.
Political will is crucial in driving affordable housing initiatives, with a call for community advocacy, and non-profit organizations are actively involved in increasing affordable housing options.
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Non-profit programs in Hawaii supporting those who have lost homes.
01:09:17
CEO Terry George details Castle Foundation's community building efforts in Waianae and Waimanalo.
Foundation's work in grassroots eviction prevention during the pandemic using federal funding and community input.
Creation of community navigator positions, mostly held by native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander women.
Collaborative efforts resulting in preventing a thousand evictions on the windward side.
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Addressing affordable healthcare and the need for strong leadership in legislature.
01:10:11
Utilizing data from the Eviction Lab and Hawaii Data Collaborative to analyze and address housing needs.
Highlighting the hidden population of homeless individuals on the windward side who are not counted.
Emphasizing the importance of providing support and resources for this overlooked group.
Seeking insights from other areas like Tacoma and potential collaboration with Hawaii to tackle homelessness effectively.
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Cities implementing tenant protection measures during eviction processes.
01:13:30
New York saw a 40% decrease in eviction filings after introducing a right to an attorney in eviction court.
Wichita and Seattle are taking innovative approaches to address the housing crisis, including extra sales tax for affordable housing and passing housing levies.
Seattle aims to prevent becoming unlivable like San Francisco by prioritizing family-friendly housing policies.
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The importance of regulatory solutions to address housing issues.
01:15:56
Making evictions harder and more costly is suggested as a way to reduce them.
Examples of solutions include mandatory mediation sessions in Philadelphia.
Intervening upstream is emphasized to prevent downstream problems.
The need for a more humane approach to housing challenges is highlighted.
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Challenges with the housing voucher system in hot housing markets.
01:17:26
Landlords often reject vouchers due to high returns, leading to clustering of voucher holders in low-income neighborhoods.
Vouchers are ineffective in posh and poor areas, creating income discrimination.
Proposed solutions include making vouchers more market efficient and illegal for landlords to discriminate.
Simplifying the process for landlords while combating income discrimination is crucial.
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The speaker discusses the impact of the Evicted Book Foundation on helping individuals facing housing insecurity.
01:19:52
Vanetta, a woman facing housing struggles, received financial assistance from the speaker to purchase essential appliances.
Proceeds from the foundation have been used to support various needs such as sending kids to college and stabilizing housing for individuals in need.
The foundation has also helped in paying off medical debt for those featured in the book.
The speaker reflects on the history of land dispossession of people of color and addresses eviction issues in Hawaii.
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Impact of GI Bill on Veterans and Communities of Color.
01:22:22
The GI Bill allocated federal budget for mortgages, with veterans benefiting the most.
Communities of color, including Black and Latinx individuals, were excluded due to discriminatory practices like redlining.
Eviction moratoriums are crucial in preventing adverse health outcomes for babies during pregnancy.
Emergency rental assistance programs have proven effective in reducing eviction rates and addressing historical injustices.
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Federal government intervention has successfully reduced child poverty by over a third.
01:25:00
It is estimated that $177 billion annually, less than 1% of the GDP, could eliminate poverty in America.
Reallocating funds from employer tax benefits for health insurance could help achieve this goal.
This challenges the notion that the government cannot effectively address poverty.
Solutions to poverty are within reach with proper reallocation of resources.