AVLF Deputy Director Michael Lucas and Elora Raymond, graduate research assistant at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta’s Center for Real Estate Analytics, recently appeared on WABE’s Closer Look. The pair spoke to Rose Scott and Jim Burress about Atlanta’s eviction crisis as part of the radio show’s on-going series on affordable housing in Atlanta. 

Lucas and Raymond previously co-authored a paper for the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta entitled “Corporate Landlords, Institutional Investors, and Displacement: Eviction Rates in Single-Family Rentals,” along with Richard Duckworth, Ben Miller, and Shiraj Pokharel. Their groundbreaking work was previously spotlighted on Bloomberg News. It has also been covered by local outfit Fox 5 News. 

The pair discussed how in 2015 over 100 eviction notices were filed each day in Fulton County, and how this rate of eviction is much higher than for many other cities in America. For example, in Chicago, 7% of households received an eviction in 2015. Compare that to Atlanta, which had a 22% eviction rate.

“Less hours on your shift that week, and you’re facing eviction. One missed paycheck, and you’re facing eviction. One unexpected car repair. And in Georgia, you only have to be a dollar short or a day late, and you can face eviction,” Lucas reminded listeners. 

Listen to the entire show here.