>>> TONIGHT A SPECIAL EDITION OF

"METROFOCUS," POVERTY IN

AMERICA.

WE ARE TAKING YOU OUT OF THE

COMFORT OF YOUR HOME AND INTO A

WORLD OF TRAILER PARKS AND

SURVIVAL TO MAKE ENDS MEET.

WE'LL INTRODUCE YOU TO PEOPLE

SCRAPING BY WITH BARELY THE BARE

ESSENTIALS.

HOW FIGHTING THE STIGMA OF

LIVING IN POVERTY IS ALMOST AS

BAD AS BEING IMPOVERISHED AND

HOW CHASING THE AMERICAN DREAM

FOR SOME SEEMS OUT OF REACH IN A

UNIVERSAL WAY.

IT'S A "METROFOCUS" YOU CANT

AFFORD TO MISS, AND IT ALL

STARTS RIGHT NOW.

>> Announcer: THIS IS

"METROFOCUS" WITH RAFAEL PI

ROMAN, JACK FORD AND JENNA

FLANAGAN.

FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM WAS

PROVIDED BY --

FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM IS ALSO

PROVIDED BY THE J.P. D.

FOUNDATION AND THE FORD

>> WELCOME TO THIS SPECIAL

EDITION OF "METROFOCUS."

I'M MIKE SNYDER.

TONIGHT OUR ENTIRE PROGRAM IS

ABOUT POVERTY, HOUSING AND ITS

HURDLES.

ACCORDING TO SOME STATISTICS,

SOME AMERICANS SPEND ABOUT 30%

OF THEIR INCOME ON HOUSING BUT

FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE POOR

THEY PAY FLEECE 50% OF WHAT THEY

EARN ON RENT AS UTILITIES

LEAVING SOME FAMILIES HAVING TO

DECIDE BETWEEN A PLACE TO LIVE

AND IS HAVING SOMETHING TO EAT.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING OFTEN BRINGS

THEM TO TRAILER PARKS WHERE THE

THREAT OF EVICTION AND SOCIAL

STIGMA IS ALL TOO REAL.

TONIGHT WE'LL TAKE YOU INTO

THOSE PLACES.

IT'S AN EYE OPENING EXPERIENCE

YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS.

THIS IS ALL PART OF OUR ONGOING

REPORTING INITIATIVE HERE AT PBS

CALLED "CHASING THE DREAM:

POVERTY AND OPPORTUNITY IN

AMERICA."

BUT FIRST, AN EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW

OF A NEWS DAY DOCUMENTARY KAULD

THE LAST TRAILER PARK WHICH

FOLLOWS A LONG ISLAND FAMILY AND

THEIR NEIGHBORS ADDS THEY TRY TO

FIGHT OFF EVICTION.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

>> IT STARTED OFF WITH A SIMPLE

CHARACTER, SONIC, AND I USED TO

THINK THAT BATMAN WAS A

SUPERHERO BUT NOW I KNOW THAT

HE'S A REGULAR HERO.

HE DOESN'T HAVE ANY SUPER POWERS

AND HE FIGHTS.

AND HE USUALLY WINS WITHOUT ANY

SUPER POWERS.

>> SUPER SHAWNY!

>> THERE USED TO BE 180 PEOPLE

LIVING HERE.

NOW WE DWINDLED DOWN TO 8.

IT WAS SO FRIENDLY WITH KIDS

RIDING THEIR BICYCLES AROUND AND

EVERYBODY HAD LITTLE GARDENS,

AND IT WAS VERY NICE HERE.

THIS IS THE LAST MOBILE HOME

PARK IN NASSAU COUNTY.

IT'S JUST A SHAME IT HAS TO COME

TO AN END, THE END OF A

BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY.

>> THEY STARTED DELIVERING

EVICTION NOTICES TO EVERYBODY IN

THE PARK.

WE'VE HAD EVICTION WARRANTS OFF

AND ON FOR YEARS BECAUSE WE'VE

BEEN IN COURT, WE'VE MANAGED TO

STAY SOME OF THEM.

SO I DON'T KNOW, IS THIS THE

FINAL HURRAH, IS THIS THE END?

WHERE AM I GOING?

>> SHAWN THINKS FOR HIS BIRTHDAY

HE'S GOING TO GET THIS GIGANTIC

HOUSE.

HIS BIRTHDAY IS THE END OF

JANUARY.

HE TOLD THEM, HONEY, WE MIGHT BE

IN A HOMELESS SHELTER FOR YOUR

BIRTHDAY.

AT LEAST WE'LL BE TOGETHER.

EVERYTHING WILL BE 9 UNTIL WE

FIND A PLACE.

>> WHOEVER SIGNS OVER THEIR

PROPERTY TO STP WE SAW THEIR

PLACES PROBABLY GET CRUSHED.

STP WANTS YOU OUT.

YOU LOST.

THAT'S IT.

PACK UP YOUR STUFF AND GO.

WHERE AM I GOING?

THE MAIN PEOPLE THAT ARE LEFT

ARE THE SEVERELY SICK AND

DISABLED OR PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF

WITH KIDS.

SO IT GETS A LITTLE -- THE

PEOPLE THAT ARE LEFT REALLY ARE

THE TRULY DESPERATE, HARD TO

RENT TO.

>> KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.

KEEP THAT HONOR ROLL.

>> IS THIS THE FINAL HURRAH?

IS THIS THE END?

DO I -- WILL WE BE GIVEN MORE

TIME?

I REALLY DON'T KNOW, AND THE

MORE QUESTIONS I ASK, THE LESS

ANSWERS I GET.

>> SO THE KIDS AT SCHOOL, I KNOW

THEY SAY LIKE ROUGH STUFF ABOUT

ME LIVING HERE, BUT NOT TOO

ROUGH WHEN I'M AT SCHOOL.

BUT ON THE BUS IT'S VERY ROUGH.

>> WE NEVER GET INVITED TO

SOMEBODY'S HOUSE.

THEY'VE GOT NO REAL SCHOOL

FRIENDS THEY HANG OUT WITH.

JONATHAN IS A HOME BODY.

WHEN WE DID HIS BIRTHDAY PARTY,

HE DIDN'T HAVE ANY FRIENDS FROM

THE SCHOOL.

IT WAS ALL HIS COUSINS.

I THINK HE KNOWS IF WE DON'T

FIND A PLACE WEAVER GOING TO BE

IN A HOMELESS SHELTER.

>> I DIDN'T HAVE A PLAY DATE IN

SCHOOL ONCE BECAUSE I LIVE IN A

TRAILER PARK AND I THINK IT'S

LIKE GOING TO YOUR FRIEND'S

HOUSE OR HAVING A FRIEND COME TO

YOUR HOUSE FOR A DAY.

>> OKAY.

I'VE GOT MINE.

WHERE ARE YOURS?

I HAVE BEEN HERE 35-PLUS YEARS,

AND IT'S A SHAME WHAT THEY'VE

DONE TO THIS TRAILER PARK.

WE'VE HAD A VERY BEAUTIFUL

COMMUNITY HERE, AND YOU GET TO

PEOPLE WHO SAYS, YES, THEY'RE

RIFF RAVE.

BUT WE AREN'T.

WE NEVER WERE.

THIS IS MY HOME.

THIS ISN'T THIS IS NOT TRAILER

TRASH.

I DON'T WANT IT TO BE TOO LATE

FOR US.

I WANT A GOOD SAMARITAN TO COME

IN HERE AND SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT,

YOU GOT TO GIVE THIS ONE HELL OF

A FIGHT.

I HAVE NOWHERE TO GO.

AND I'M NOT LEAVING WITHOUT A

FIGHT.

THERE'S GOT TO BE SOMETHING

SOMEBODY CAN DO.

PLEASE HELP US.

>> A GOOD FIGHT OR BATTLE SCENE

IS PROBABLY LIKE A -- LIKE A

PLACE KIND OF LIKE HOW?

>> DON'T WORRY.

I'LL SAVE YOU.

>> YOU THINK YOU CAN EDIT IT TO

MAKE IT LOOK LIKE THERE WERE

LASERS COMING OUT OF MY EYE WHEN

I WAS LIKE THIS?

OUTSIDE FROM MY HOUSE, LIKE IN

THE WHOLE TRAILER PARK WOULD BE

BE A GREAT BATTLE SCENE BECAUSE

YOU CAN THROW PEOPLE AND I WOULD

FIGHT THEM WITH MY WORDS, LIKE

MARTIN LUTHER KING.

>> I'VE BEEN DOWN TO THE TOWN.

I'VE BEEN DOWN TO THE COURTS.

I'VE BEEN DOWN TO THE POLICE.

AND THEY ALL TELL ME THAT

THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO.

I JUST HAVE TO LIVE WITH IT.

THEY ALL SAID, WELL, IF YOU HAVE

A PROBLEM, JUST PACK UP AND

MOVE.

THAT'S NOT SO EASY WHEN YOU'RE

LIVING BELOW POVERTY LEVEL.

I'M LOOKING FOR A MIRACLE.

I'M LOOKING FOR SOMEBODY TO -- I

DO REALLY HOPE SOMEBODY CAN STEP

IN AND SAY, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT

BE A JUDGE, ANY KIND OF

SUPERHERO TO COME IN AND SAVE

THE PARK OR THE PARK FOR THE

SCHOOL YEAR.

I'VE HEARD THAT THE SHERIFF CAN

COME KNOCK ON MY DOOR, LIKE MY

KIDS WILL GO TO SCHOOL, I WILL

WALK SAN SHAWNY TO THE BUS, AS I

WALK HOME FROM THE BUS, I WILL

WATCH THE SHERIFF'S TRUCKS PULL

IN AND THEY'LL SAY, FIND A

PLACE.

>> NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO, YOU

OPEN THIS UP AND JUST KEEP

SQUEEZING AND SQUEEZING.

NOW, THIS IS THE HARD PART,

GETTING THE SEEDS INTO YOUR

HANDS.

WHEN I MOVE, WE'RE GOING TO

PLANT THESE.

TOMORROW SUNFLOWER SEEDS.

I THINK THE BIGGER THEY ARE THE

BIGGER THE SUNFLOWERS ARE GOING

TO BE.

>> WHETHER IT BE UPSTATE NORTH

CAROLINA, NEW ORLEANS,

CALIFORNIA, WHEREVER WE END UP

LANDING, I'M HOPING THAT IT'S A

NICE, FRESH START AND A NEW

BEGINNING, YOU KNOW, TO START A

WHOLE NEW CHAPTER.

>> LIKE EVEN IF -- YOU WITH

ALWAYS HAVE BELIEF IN GOOD AND

BELIEF IS THE BEST SUPER POWER

ANYONE COULD HAVE.

SO ANYONE COULD BE A SUPERHERO.

>> JOINING ME NOW WITH MORE ON

THE LAST TRAILER PARK AND ITS

TENANTS IS THE FILM'S PRODUCER

RACHEL BRIGHTMAN.

WE WELCOME YOU TO THE PROGRAM.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT

HAPPENED TO THESE PEOPLE IN A

MOMENT.

BUT I WANT TO FIND OUT FROM YOU,

HOW DID YOU FIND OUT ABOUT THIS

STORY?

WHAT DREW YOU TO IT?

>> WELL, WE HAD BEEN REPORTING

ON THIS IN THE PAPER, AND I

SAID, WE'VE GOT TO BE FOLLOWING

THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO

FIGHT TO STAY, TO LIVE IN THEIR

HOMES.

WE NEED TO FIND OUT WHY.

AND SO I WENT OVER THERE AND

JUST SPENT TIME WITH THEM TO SEE

IN THERE WAS A STORY THERE AND

WHAT I WOULD BE ABLE TO BRING

FROM IT.

>> WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE?

>> IT'S AMAZING YOU SAY THAT

BECAUSE THE STIGMA BEHIND IT WHO

THESE PEOPLE ARE, I'VE COME TO

FIND COMPLETELY FALSE ONCE FOR

MYSELF.

>> THAT SOUND BITE THERE OF THE

GENTLEMAN SAYINGOR WE'RE NOT

RIFFRAFF, WE'RE NOT WHITE TRASH,

IT'S HORRIBLE PEOPLE WOULD THINK

THEY HAD TO DEFEND THEMSELVES

AGAINST THOSE LABELS.

>> EXACTLY.

THEY'RE JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE

EXCEPT THEY CHOOSE TO LIV IN

TRAILER HOMS BECAUSE THEY ONLY

WANT A SMALLER PIECE OF PROPERTY

OR THEY WANT TO HAVE A LITTLE

GARDEN INSTEAD OF LIVING IN AN

APARTMENT OR THEY HAVE PETS OR

CHILDREN IT'S JUST A DIFFERENT

KIND OF COMMUNITY LIKE

AMERICANA.

>> CAN THEY AFFORD P ANYTHING

MORE?

MANY OF THESE FOLKS ARE ON

SOCIAL SECURITY, SOME OF THEM

ARE ILL.

IS THAT -- I MEAN, IN A PLACE

LIKE LONG ISLAND, NASSAU COUNTY,

WHICH IS MY HOME COUNTY, IT'S

WHERE I GREW UP, THERE'S NOT A

LOT OF WHAT WE WOULD CALL IN

SOME CASES AFFORDABLE HOUSING,

OR IS THAT A MISIMPRESSION?

>> NO, YES.

IT'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

THESE TRAILER PARKS PROVIDE

GREAT STARTER HOMES FOR SINGLE

PARENTS, PEOPLE JUST GETTING

STARTED IN LIFE, YOUNG PEOPLE,

AND YOU GET EVERYONE FROM FORMER

POLICE OFFICERS CAN AFFORD MORE

BUT ONLY WANT A SMALLER HOME TO

PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST LIVING OFF

OF DISABILITY AND DON'T HAVE THE

MEANS TO GO OUT AND WORK A JOB

WHO THIS IS THE RENT THEY CAN

AFFORD OR THIS IS WHAT THEY CAN

SWING.

AND IT'S IN A TRAILER PARK.

>> NOW, MY UNDERSTANDING IS

THEY -- MOST OF THE RESIDENTS

OWN THE TRAILERS BUT THEY DON'T

OWN THE LAND UNDER IT?

>> YES.

SO MOST OF THE RESIDENTS OWN

THEIR TRAILERS EXCEPT FOR THE

TWO FAMILIES WHO WE SAW.

THEY WERE BOTH RENTERS.

BUT THROUGH THEIR BATTLE IN

ORDER TO STAY HERE, THEY MANAGED

TO GET A BUILD TOGETHER, SECTION

233, THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO

GET GRANDFATHERED INTO THAT

BASICALLY SAYS THAT BEFORE THE

LAND OF A TRAILER PARK GETS

SOLD, NOW THEY MUST OFFER THAT

LAND TO THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN

THE TRAILER PARK BEFORE IT CAN

BE SOLD TO A REAL ESTATE

DEVELOPER TO PREVENT THIS FROM

HAPPENING GEB.

>> SO THEY HAVE THE RIGHT OF

FIRST REFUSAL.

>> YES.

>> BUT THAT WASN'T THERE FOR

THESE FOLKS.

>> THEY WERE NOT GRANDFATHERED

IN.

THE LAND WAS SOLD BEFORE THIS

CAME INTO PLACE.

>> SO WHAT HAPPENED TO THESE

FOLKS?

WHERE ARE NE NOW?

>> JUST SIX DAYS BEFORE THEIR

EVICTION NOTICE WAS DUE DO BE

UP, THEY FOUND TEMPORARY HOUSING

IN UPSTATE NEW YORK.

AND THEY ARE ADAPTING REALLY

WELL.

THE YOUNG BOY --

>> BUT NOT LONG ISLAND.

>> THEY COULDN'T STAY ON LONG

ISLAND.

>> WHY NOT?

>> MOST OF THEIR PAYCHECK WAS

THEIR RENT.

EVEN WITH TWO INCOMES, LIVING IN

A TRAILER PARK WAS ALL THEY

COULD AFFORD AND BILLS.

AND ONE PRESENT FOR CHRISTMAS

AND MAYBE A DINNER ON A

BIRTHDAY.

BUT TO STAY ON LONG ISLAND

WASN'T REALISTIC.

>> SO THAT PHRASE THAT WE USED

IN THE INTRODUCTION, CHOOSING

BETWEEN A PLACE TO LIVE OR FOOD,

IT'S REAL FOR ALOFT OF THESE

FEEKS.

>> IT'S REAL, YES.

>> WHAT WAS YOUR BIGGEST

SURPRISE IN DOING THIS?

>> HOW OPEN THE COMMUNITY WAS TO

LETTING ME IN THEIR LIVES.

>> YOU EXPECTED TO, WHAT, BE AN

OUTSIDER AND TO BE UNWELCOME?

>> THEY ARE KIND OF SECLUDED.

THEY'RE THIS PARTICULAR TRAILER

PARK WAS SET BACK, AND THEY WERE

THEIR OWN COMMUNITY.

>> WHICH IS IN AND OF ITSELF

KIND OF SPRIEGZ BECAUSE THOSE OF

US WHO KNOW LONG ISLAND AND

NASSAU COUNTY ESPECIALLY KNOW

THERE'S NOT A LOT OF SECLUSION

EXCEPT FOR MAYBE SOME OF THE

HUGE ESTATES THAT EXIST.

>> EXACTLY.

I FEEL LIKE PART OF THAT

SECLUSION IS BECAUSE OF SOME

STIGMAS THAT MIGHT BE ASSOCIATED

WITH TRAILER PARKS BUT I STARTED

ATTENDING COMMUNITY BARBECUES,

KIDS' BIRTHDAY PARTIES AND BY A

MONTH OR TWO INTO SHOOTING THIS

I WAS LIKE ONE OF THEM.

I COULD WALK AROUND AND NO ONE

WOULD BE NERVOUS ABOUT WHO WAS I

AND WHO WAS I WITH OR WHAT I WAS

TRYING TO DO.

>> THE TRAUMA ON THE ADULTS IS

ALL TOO VIVID IN WHAT THEY SAY

AND IN THEIR EYES.

THE CHILD IN THIS PIECE THAT YOU

FOCUS ON, SHAWN.

>> YEAH, SHAWN.

>> HE SEEMS TO HAVE SOME SORT I

DEPONENT KNOW IF I'D CALL IT ZEN

OR A PHILOSOPHICAL OUTLOOKING

BUT THERE'S SOMETHING THERE,

ISN'T THERE?

>> YEAH.

HE'S A SMART KID.

HE'S MAKING LOTS OF FRIENDS UPZ

IN UPSTATE NEW YORK NOW.

BUT WHEN I TALKED TO SHAWN I

JUST SET THE CAMERA DOWN AND

TRIEDED TO MAKE IT AS NATIONAL

AND EASY AS POSSIBLE.

LET HIM RUMBLE.

LET HIM GO ORN A RANT.

WHO ELSE IS HE GOING TO DO THAT

WITH?

I WAS LIKE, CAULK TAUK TO ME

LIKE I'M YOUR FRIEND.

I'M YOUR FRIEND.

AND IT BROUGHT ABOUT ALL OF

THESE WONDERFUL THOUGHT THAT'S

YOU WOULDN'T EXPECT TO COME FROM

SOMEONE THAT YOUNG.

>> KIDS ALWAYS HAVE THOUGHTS

OF -- FANTAIES AND MAYBE AT A

SUPERHERO ANGLE BUT WHAT HE

WANTED A SUPERHERO TO DO WAS

QUITE DIFFERENT THAN WHAT MANY

OTHER CHILDREN PROBABLY WOULD

PERCEIVE IN THEIR FANTASIES.

>> YEAH.

AND THINK PART OF THAT IS THE

SITUATION HE'S COMING FROM, THE

TWAKT THAT THE WHOLE COMMUNITY

WAS WAITING ON SOMEONE AT THE

LAST MOMENT TO SWOOP IN AND LET

THEM STAY THERE FOR THE RAIMTDER

OF THE COOL YEAR OR ANY LONGER

TIME, LET THEM FIND HOUSING.

>> WHAT WE'VE SEEN THE WORK

YOU'VE DONE IS EXTRAORDINARY.

THE REST OF THE PIECE WHICH I

ENCOURAGE YOU VIEWERS TO WATCH

IS EQUALLY EXTRAORDINARY.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR

COMING ON.

>> THANK YOU, MIKE.

>> TO WATCH THE FULL DOCUMENTARY

"THE LAST TRAILER PARK" AND TO

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE FILM,

HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE AT

METROFOCUS.ORG.

AND WE'LL SEE YOU THERE.

>>> OUR NEXT GUEST NOEFS THE

REALITY OF LIVING IN A TRAILER

PARK ALL TOO WELL.

HARVARD PROFESSOR MATTHEW

DESMOND MADE A TRAILER HIS HOME

FOR NEAR A HALVE A YEAR AND

INTEREST THERE HE WATCHED

FAMILIES EVICTED AND FORCED NO

SHELTERS.

DESMOND CHRONICLED THE STRUGGLES

OF THOSE FAMILIES AS THEY TRIED

TO SAVE THEIR HOMES IN COURT.

BY THE TIME HE WAS FINISHED HE

HAD WRITTEN THOUSANDS OF PAGES

THE BEGINNINGS OF WHAT HAS BEEN

CALLED THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE

DETAILED DATA ON AMERICAN

POVERTY, HOUSING AND EVICTION IN

EXISTENCE.

STHOERZS ARE THE FOUNDATION OF

DES MONDAY'S NEW BOOK A OWE

VICTIM PROFIT AND POVERTY IN THE

AMERICAN CITY.

JOINING US NOW TO TALK ABOUT IT

IS PROFESSOR DESMOND.

PROFESSOR, WELCOME.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> PROFESSOR, AS SOMEONE WHO

SPENT SOME TIME IN THE TRAILER

PARK, WHAT CAME TO MIND WHEN YOU

SAW THIS FAMILY AND THEIR

NEIGHBORS STRUGGLE TO KEEP THEIR

HOMES?

>> IT WAS POWERFUL.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THE

DOCUMENTARY REALLY GETS THE

SENSE THAT EVICTION CAUSES LOSS

NOT ONLY FOR INDIVIDUAL FAMILIES

BUT ENTIRE COMMUNITIES, HOW IT

CAN KIND OF TEAR APART THE

SOCIAL FABRIC OF A NEIGHBORHOOD.

I THINK THAT CAME ACROSS REALLY

STRONGLY, AND THAT'S SOMETHING I

SAW IN MY RESEARCH.

I THINK ANOTHER BIG THEME IS

KIDS.

er KNOW, THE FACE OF AMERICA'S

EVICTION EPIDEMIC IS MOMS WITH

CHILDREN.

YOU SEE THAT IN THE STORIES OF

THE DOCUMENTARY, AND YOU SEE

THAT IN EVERY URBAN HOUSING

COURT ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

UNTIL RECENTLY, THE BRONX

HOUSING COURT, FOR EXAMPLE, HAD

A DAY CARE.

THERE WERE SO MANY CHILDREN

COMING THROUGH ITS DOORS.

>> YOU OF COURSE CHOSE TO LIVE

IN A TRAILER PARK AND ALSO IN A

ROOMY HOUSE IN THE INNER CITY OF

MILWAUKEE TO CONDUCT RESEARCH ON

POVERTY.

WHY DO DID YOU CHOOSE TO FOCUS

ON EVICTION, THE EVICTION PART

OF THE PROBLEM OF POVERTY AND

HOMELESSNESS IN THIS COUNTRY?

>> AMERICA IS UNIQUE FOR THE

DEPTH AND EXPANSE OF ITS POVERTY

COMPARED TO ALL OTHER RICH

DEMOCRACIES.

AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S ALWAYS

TRUB UBLED ME.

IT'S ALWAYS SOMETHING I'VE FOUND

UNNECESSARY.

AND I WANTED TO UNDERSTAND THE

ROLE THAT HOUSING WAS PLAYING IN

DEEPENING POVERTY IN OUR CITIES

AND I THOUGHT EVICTION WAS A

REALLY GOOD WINDOW INTO THAT.

WHEN I STARTED THIS WORK, I HAD

NO IDEA HOW COMMON EVICTIONS

WERE AND I HAD NO IDEA HOW

CONSEQUENTIAL THEY WERE.

>> HOW COMMON IS EVICTION?

>> IT'S A LOT MORE COMMON THAN

IT USED TO BE.

WHEN YOU READ STORIES OF

EVICTION FROM THE 1930s OR

1940s, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT

DREW CROWDS.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE

PROTESTED.

BUT TODAY WE'VE GROWN QUITE USED

TO THE RUMBLE OF THE MOVING

TRUCKS THROUGH POOR

NEIGHBORHOODS AND A KNOCK ON THE

DOOR IN THE EARLY MORNING.

ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL DATA,

RENTERS IN OVER 2.8 MILLION

HOMES THINK OF BEING EVICTED

SOON.

IN THE CITY THAT I STUDIED,

MILWAUKEE, ABOUT 1 IN 8 RENTERS

EXPERIENCES AN EVICTION EVERY

TWO YEARS.

INCREDIBLY HIGH NUMBER.

AND SO WE'VE MOVED FROM

SOMETHING WHERE EVICTION USED TO

BE RARE TO SOMETHING WHERE

EVICTION IS FRANKLY COMMON PLACE

IN OUR CITIES LOW-INCOME

COMMUNITIES.

>> YOU WRITE THAT MOST PEOPLE

SEE EVICTION AS THE RESULT OF

POVERTY BUT THAT EVICTION CAN

ACTUALLY CAUSE POVERTY.

HOW SO?

>> I THINK YOU SAW THIS IN THE

DOCUMENTARY.

YOU KNOW, EVICTION CAUSES LOSS.

YOU LOSE NOT ONLY YOUR HOME BUT

OFTEN YOUR COMMUNITY, YOUR

POSSESSIONS CAN BE TAKEN, TOO.

EITHER KIND OF PILED ON THE

SIDEWALK OR TAKEN BY MOVERS.

OFTEN FAMILIES CAN'T JUST KEEP

UP THE FAIMTS.

IT FAKE AS LOT OF TIME AND MONEY

TO START A HOME.

EVICTION COMES WITH A RECORD AND

JUST LIKE A CRIMINAL RECORD CAN

AFFECT YOU ON THE JOB MARKET, AN

EVICTION CAN AFFECT YOU ON THE

HOUSING MARKET.

A LOT OF LANDLORDS WILL TURN YOU

AWAY IF YOU HAVE A RECENT

EVICTION RECORD.

PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITIES DO,

TOO.

WE KNOW EVICTION CAUSES JOB LOSS

NOT ONLY FROM STARES I TELL IN

MY BOOK BUT ALSO FROM STA TAS

TICKAL DATA A. AUND SAW WHY IN

THE DOCUMENTARY.

IT'S SUCH A DRAWN-OUT, CONSUMING

EVENT.

IT CAN CAUSE YOU TO MAKE

MISTAKES AT WORK AND EVENTUALLY

LOOSE YOUR NOT HOLD IN THE LABOR

MARKET.

>> YOU ALSO WRITE AUND MADE

REFERENCES TOION OF YOUR EARLIER

ANSWERS, IF INCARCERATION HAD

COME TO DEFINE THE LIVES OF MEN

FROM IMPFRNED BLACK

NEIGHBORHOODS, EVICTION WAS

SHAPING THE LIVES OF WOMEN.

WHY HAVE WOMEN BECOME THE FACE

OF THE EVICTION EPIDEMIC?

>> P THERE'S A LOT OF ANSWERS TO

THAT QUESTION BUT ONE BIG ONE IS

KIDS.

CHILDREN INSTEAD OF SHE'DING YOU

FROM EVICTION OFTEN EXPOSES MOMS

TO EVICTION.

IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHY SOME

PEOPLE WHO ARE SUMMONED TO

EVICTION COURT WHILE OTHERS

DON'T THE ANSWER WE FOUND IS

KIDS.

THE PRESENCE OF CHILDREN IN A

HOUSEHOLD TRIPLES YOUR ODDS OF

GETTING AN EVICTION JUDGMENT IN

MILWAUKEE HOUSING COURT, THE

CITY THAT I KNOW THE BEST.

AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS KIDS

CAN REALLY HURT LAND LOORDS'

BOTTOM LINE.

>> NOW, YOU ARGUE THAT JOBS ARE

ONLY PART OF THE SOLUTION TO

POVERTY BECAUSE POVERTY IS NOT

JUST A PRODUCT OF JOBLESSNESS OR

LOW WAGES.

BUT THAT ALSO THE PRODUCT OF

EXPLOITATION.

WHAT KIND OF EXPLOITATION ARE

YOU TALKING ABOUT?

>> I THINK WE NEED TO BE CLEAR

ABOUT THE FACT THAT SOME PEOPLE

MAKE A LOT OF MONEY OFF OF LOW

INCOME FAMILIES.

YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE LANDLORDS

THAT I PROFILED IN THE BOOK TOLD

ME, MATT, THE HOOD IS GOOD.

THERE'S A LOT OF MONEY TO BE BE

MADE THERE.

AND SHE WAS RIGHT.

SHE MADE IN A SINGLE MONTH AFTER

EXPENSES WHAT MOST OF HER

TENANTS TOOK HOME IN A YEAR.

WE JUST NEED TO HAVE A

CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT AND BE

FRANK ABOUT THE FACT THAT IF YOU

TRY TO ADDRESS POVERTY WITHOUT

ADDRESSING HOUSING, OUR

INITIATIVES ARE GOING TO FALL

FLAT.

>> YOU KNOW, THERE ARE A LOT OF

REASONS, THERE ARE A LOT OF

FACTORS THAT CAUSE POVERTY.

HOW DO YOU ANSWER SOMEONE WHO

WILL TELL YOU, ONE OF THOSE

FACTORS IS WRONG CHOICES THAT

PEOPLE MAKE WRONG CHOICES THAT'S

WHY THEY'RE POOR AND IN FACT

YOUR OWN BOOK SHOWS THAT THAT'S

THE CASE BECAUSE SOME OF THE

PEOPLE YOU PROFILE DID MAKE

WRONG CHOICES WHAT DO YOU SAY?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK WE ALL MAKE

MISTAKES.

WE ALL HAVE DECISIONS THAT WE

MAKE THAT HAVE CONSEQUENCES ON

OUR LIVES.

FOR THE LOW INCOME FAMILIES THAT

I SPENT TIME WITH, THEY WEREN'T

POOR BECAUSE THEY MADE BAD

DECISIONS OR DECISIONS THAT SOME

OF US WOULD SAY WERE BAD OR

IRRESPONSIBLE.

THEY MADE THOSE DECISIONS

BECAUSE THEY WERE POOR.

THERE IS NO AMOUNT OF SKIMPING

OR SAVING THAT THEY COULD DO TO

LIFT THEM ABOVE THE POVERTY

LINE.

YOU KNOW, THEY WERE SO FAR BELOW

IT.

THESE WERE FOLK WHOZ WERE PAYING

80% OF THEIR INCOME TO RENTAL A

TRAILER IN A LOW INCOME TRAILER

PARK IN A VERY POOR CITY.

THESE WERE FOLKS THAT WERE NOT

JUST LIVING AT THE POVERTY LINE

BUT FAR BELOW IT.

SO UNDER THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES,

WHY NOT PEPPER THE SUFFERING

WITH A LITTLE COLOR ONCE IN A

WHILE?

AND I THINK THE BIG IMPLICATION

IS THAT IF WE WERE ABLE TO BRING

FOLKS INTO STABILITY, IF WE WERE

ABLE TO OFFER THEM A CHANCE NOT

TO PAY 80% OF THEIR INCOME TO

RENT BY 30% OF THEIR INCOME TO

RENT, WOULD THEY MAKE BETTER

CHOICES?

I THINK THE ANSWER IS ABSOLUTELY

YES.

AND THERE ARE STORIES IN THE

BOOK WHERE FOLKS DO COME INTO

SOME SORT OF STABILITY AND YOU

DO SEE THEM MAKING HEALTHIER

CHOICES AND IN THEIR CHRNDAGE

THEIR SAVINGS ACCOUNTS.

>> WHAT ARE SOME OF THE

REALISTIC STEPS THAT WE CAN TAKE

IN ORDER TO GET THEM THERE SFL.

>> I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE A

CONVERSATION AS A COUNTRY ABOUT

DO WE BELIEVE THAT HOUSING IS A

RIGHT?

IS STABLE AFFORDABLE SHELTER

PART OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE AN

AMERICAN?

AND I THINK WE HAVE TO ANSWER

YES AND THE REASON IS SIMPLE.

WITHOUT STABLE SHELTER

EVERYTHING ELSE FALLS APART.

SO HOW CAN WE DELIVER ON THAT

OBLIGATION?

WELL, THE GOOD NEWS IS WE HAVE

PROGRAMS THAT ARE WORKING RIGHT

NOW.

THE BAD NEWS IS THOSE PROGRAMS

ONLY REACH A MINORITY OF LOW

INCOME FAMILIES.

IT'S NOT THE CASE THAT THE

TYPICAL POOR FAMILY LIVES IN

PUBLIC HOUSING OR BENEFITS IN

SOME WAY FROM HOUSING

ASSISTANCE.

THE OPPOSITE IS TRUE.

STO WE CAN TAKE PROGRAMS THAT WE

HAVE LIKE THE HOUSING VOUCHER

PROGRAM THAT ALLOWS FAMILIES TO

ONLY SPEND 30% OF THEIR INCOME

ON HOUSING, WE CAN TAKE THAT

PROGRAM AND EXPAND IT TO ALL

FAMILIES LIVING BELOW THE

POVERTY LINE.

THAT WOULD FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGE

THE FACE OF POVERTY IN AMERICA.

>> PROFESSOR DESMOND, YOU THANK

YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US

TODAY.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> FOR MORE ON MATTHEW DESMOND'S

BOOK, GO TO OUR WEBSITE MECHANIC

TROH FOCUS.ORG AND WHILE YOU'RE

THERE BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE

FULL NEWS DAY DOCUMENTARY "THE

LAST TRAILER PARK."

I'M RAFAEL PI ROMAN.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

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CORPORATE FUNDING FOR

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MUTUAL OF AMERICA, YOUR

RETIREMENT COMPANY.

AND B PSE&G, SERVING KMERS,

INVESTING IN THE FUTURE.

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