Matthew Desmond, author of the 2017 Pulitzer Prize-winning book, Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City, will speak Oct. 10, 6-8 p.m. in the Lory Student Center Ballroom at Colorado State University. The event, which includes a reception, lecture and book signing, is free to attend, but online registration is required.
The book showcases the stories of eight families and their challenges in the poorest neighborhoods in Milwaukee; Desmond combines these stories with years of data to present a stark picture of extreme poverty in America. His research communicates the long-lasting impacts eviction can have on vulnerable members of the community.
Desmond is the principal investigator at the Eviction Lab at Princeton University. There, he works with a team to compile nationwide data that is accessible to students, researchers, policy-makers and citizens.
According to Eviction Lab findings, there were more than 18,000 evictions in Colorado in 2016. In areas with high housing costs, eviction leads to long-term displacement while families seek alternative housing opportunities. In Fort Collins, over half of all renters are cost-burdened by spending more than one third of their income on rent. This reality puts more local households at risk of eviction.
Partnership with Neighbor to Neighbor
“As the lead provider of eviction prevention services in Larimer County, we are excited to partner with CSU to bring Matthew Desmond to share his knowledge and gift of storytelling with us,” said Neighbor to Neighbor Executive Director Kelly Evans. “Fort Collins has many challenges when it comes to affordable housing, eviction, and homelessness prevention and we hope this presentation will start conversations to identify solutions in our community.”
CSU’s support of this event is a continuation of the university’s commitment support stable housing for employees. This effort was initiated by the Housing Solutions Task Force, formed by CSU President Tony Frank in 2015. Through the Neighbor to Neighbor and CSU partnership, CSU has brought a Housing Solutions Coordinator on campus to provide full-time housing support to university staff.
Neighbor to Neighbor, a local nonprofit founded in 1970, has partnered with CSU, NeighborWorks America, Bohemian Foundation, Housing Catalyst, CARE Housing, and Old Firehouse Books to bring Desmond to Colorado. Neighbor to Neighbor provides housing stability to over 5,000 Larimer County residents each year.
