Black households are disproportionately affected by eviction
In “A comprehensive demographic profile of the US evicted population” we find that Black households are disproportionately affected by eviction. Figure 2 compares the population of renters from the American Community Survey (ACS) to the population of individuals affected by evictions, identified by linking eviction court records to the ACS and Decennial Census. Although Black individuals are only around 10% of renters, they are 20-30% of those facing an eviction filing or eviction decision.
This racial eviction gap is related to other inequalities between Black and White households. For example, the racial wealth gap means that Black households may have less savings to cope with a shock that affects their ability to pay rent. On the other hand, eviction and housing instability may also prevent Black households from accumulating wealth. Similarly, employment and earnings are both causes and effects of eviction. A job loss or income reduction may lead to eviction, but finding or keeping a job may also be harder for those who are evicted or have unstable housing. These complex interactions create multiple layers of disadvantage for Black households.