A new report on eviction data from Kansas City reveals systematic factors related to the housing crisis.
Tara Raghuveer of the Kansas City Eviction Project discusses the findings of an analysis of eviction data from metropolitan Kansas City, Missouri, from 1999 to 2017. Eviction rates averaged about 9,000 a year consistently over this time period. But Raghuveer points out that these are only formal evictions, and the total number of forced moves is likely much higher.
Nonpayment of rent was the most common reason for eviction filings, and this figure has increased considerably since 2012. According to Raghuveer, race is an important factor related to evictions, with higher eviction rates among black residents and in black neighborhoods, even when income is held constant.
The study also found that almost all eviction cases that made it to the landlord-tenant docket in 2017 were decided in favor of the landlord. For cases from 2006 to 2016, most landlords had legal representation while very few tenants had lawyers. In addition, the rise of limited liability companies and the protections they provide to property owners have made it more difficult to hold landlords accountable, according to Raghuveer.
The large number of informal convictions, those happening outside of the court system, means these findings only provide part of the picture. In the long run, says Raghuveer, Kansas City and other cities facing similar challenges must pursue effective affordable housing policies and strategies to stem the flow of evictions.
FULL STORY: Kansas City Eviction Research Highlights the Need for Bold Municipal Solutions
Depopulation Patterns Get Weird
A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.
California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million
Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.
Chicago to Turn High-Rise Offices into Housing
Four commercial buildings in the Chicago Loop have been approved for redevelopment into housing in a bid to revitalize the city’s downtown post-pandemic.
How California Transit Agencies are Addressing Rider Harassment
Safety and harassment are commonly cited reasons passengers, particularly women and girls, avoid public transit.
Significant Investments Needed to Protect LA County Residents From Climate Hazards
A new study estimates that LA County must invest billions of dollars before 2040 to protect residents from extreme heat, increasing precipitation, worsening wildfires, rising sea levels, and climate-induced public health threats.
Federal Rule Raises Cost for Oil and Gas Extraction on Public Lands
An update to federal regulations raises minimum bonding to limit orphaned wells and ensure cleanup costs are covered — but it still may not be enough to mitigate the damages caused by oil and gas drilling.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
City of Laramie, Wyoming
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.