Estimating eviction prevalence across the United States

Area of Science:

• Sociology
• Urban Studies
• Public Policy

Background:

• Forced displacement and its negative effects are recognized, but national-level data on eviction risk is lacking.
• The absence of comprehensive eviction data hinders accurate scope estimation and policy evaluation for housing loss reduction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To construct a nationwide database of eviction filings in the United States.
• To provide reliable measurements of eviction risk on a national scale.
• To facilitate research on the causes and consequences of eviction lawsuits.

Main Methods:

• Creation of a nationwide database compiling eviction filing records across the U.S.
• Analysis of eviction filing rates to identify geographic concentrations and trends.
• Statistical examination of the association between state-level housing policies and county-level eviction risk.

Main Results:

• An average of 2.7 million households per year face eviction filings nationwide.
• Highest eviction filing rates are not exclusively in high-cost urban areas, indicating broader geographic distribution.
• State-level housing policies demonstrate a strong correlation with county-level eviction filing risk.

Conclusions:

• The developed nationwide eviction filing database offers crucial insights into the scale and patterns of housing loss.
• Findings underscore the geographic diversity of eviction risk and the significant influence of housing policies.
• This resource enables more robust research into the drivers and outcomes of eviction in the U.S.