Matthew Desmond, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of “Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City,” has released a new book that shines light on another national problem. In “Poverty, By America,” the acclaimed sociologist takes a deep dive into why poverty persists and identifies potential solutions that deserve consideration.
“Poverty is the constant fear that it will get even worse,” Desmond writes. “A third of Americans live without much economic security, working as bus drivers, farmers, teachers, cashiers, cooks, nurses, security guards, social workers. Many are not officially counted among the ‘poor,’ but what then is the term for trying to raise two kids on $50,000 a year in Miami or Portland? What do you call it when you don’t qualify for a housing voucher but can’t get a mortgage either? When the rent takes half your paycheck, and your student loan debt takes another quarter?”
He has also launched a new website, endpovertyusa.org, that aims to connect people with thousands of organizations that offer resources from food and clothing to housing.
Desmond has been tapped to keynote AHF Live: the Affordable Housing Developers Summit, Nov. 13-15, in Chicago. Details about AHF Live will be coming soon at ahflive.com.
