On being evicted in a pandemic.
 | By Max Strasser International Editor, Opinion |
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Have you heard that phrase before? That short sentence — just four words — captures perfectly and vividly the brutal reality of the economy for so many Americans: Their choice is being able to eat or keep a roof over their heads. |
The United States is facing a massive eviction crisis. The pandemic has caused millions of people to lose the jobs they relied on to pay their rents. Moratoriums on evictions are now running out, and so people across the country are confronting that choice between food and rent — and even then, many may still face eviction notices and homelessness. |
There are few people who can bring expertise, urgency and humanity to this issue like Matt. He’s a sociologist, an expert on evictions with the literary skill of an exceptional novelist. In his piece this week, he writes about Jhon Loaiza and his family, their move from Queens, N.Y., to San Antonio, Tex., and what happened when they received an eviction notice — in the middle of the pandemic. |
The piece weaves together this family’s story with bigger policy debates about what can be done to make the economy safer and more humane. It will give you a sense of how wealth, health and homes intersect in the life of one family — and in the nation. |
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Here’s what we’re focusing on today: |
A Live Conversation About Making Cities More Equitable |
Join Julián Castro, Raj Chetty and Sonja Trauss as they discuss how where we live shapes our prospects in life, with Times columnist Farhad Manjoo. R.S.V.P. for the live event on Tuesday, Sept. 1, at 5 p.m. ET. |
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