Eviction Defense Project; Are families safer from eviction?
Mentor 1
Rebecca Konkel
Start Date
16-4-2021 12:00 AM
Description
This research was based off of the Milwaukee’s Eviction Defense Project (EDP). The Milwaukee Defense Project provides men, women, and family units with legal aid and information regarding their eviction cases. The three perimeters that EDP focuses on are case evicted, case stipulated, and case dismissed. This research project aims to test whether individuals with children were less likely to be evicted compared to those without children. Data on eviction outcomes and family make-up were collected through surveys of individuals who had cases that went through Milwaukee’s Eviction Defense Project (EDP) from May 2017 through September 2020 (N=1,091). Based on survey data, it was found that approximately 64% of respondents reported having children. Finding from independent sample T-tests indicated that that individuals who had children were less likely to be evicted from their residence, and instead were more likely to have their case dismissed or receive a stipulation (i.e., payment plan). The literature has revealed that children who frequently move are more likely to have academic and behavioral issues (Cutili et al., 2013; Scanlon & Devine, 2001), and this effect is greatest among those who experience the highest levels of economic disadvantage (Gasper, DeLuca, & Estacion, 2010). Because judge may consider such auxiliary effect, children may play a role in judges’ verdicts. These findings are promising, in that they indicate that children may be a mitigating factor in these cases and may not be subjected to forced moves that are the result of evictions.
Eviction Defense Project; Are families safer from eviction?
This research was based off of the Milwaukee’s Eviction Defense Project (EDP). The Milwaukee Defense Project provides men, women, and family units with legal aid and information regarding their eviction cases. The three perimeters that EDP focuses on are case evicted, case stipulated, and case dismissed. This research project aims to test whether individuals with children were less likely to be evicted compared to those without children. Data on eviction outcomes and family make-up were collected through surveys of individuals who had cases that went through Milwaukee’s Eviction Defense Project (EDP) from May 2017 through September 2020 (N=1,091). Based on survey data, it was found that approximately 64% of respondents reported having children. Finding from independent sample T-tests indicated that that individuals who had children were less likely to be evicted from their residence, and instead were more likely to have their case dismissed or receive a stipulation (i.e., payment plan). The literature has revealed that children who frequently move are more likely to have academic and behavioral issues (Cutili et al., 2013; Scanlon & Devine, 2001), and this effect is greatest among those who experience the highest levels of economic disadvantage (Gasper, DeLuca, & Estacion, 2010). Because judge may consider such auxiliary effect, children may play a role in judges’ verdicts. These findings are promising, in that they indicate that children may be a mitigating factor in these cases and may not be subjected to forced moves that are the result of evictions.
