It’s an honor to write a small piece after reading the book Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City. I have read many books but none has hit as close to home as this one. Why? Because I was evicted from my apartment in 2014 after 20 years of living there. Never a missed rent or late payment. I was evicted because of greed.My neighborhood was changing and rents were skyrocketing. My landlord had a legal maneuvering to get rid of me and my mother. He had no pity for us. We even got a sheriff notice to leave the premises.

I ended up in one of the worse shelters in New York City I became depressed and angry. I was disappointed  by my Democratic Political leaders. The party of the poor turned their backs on me. I spent 2 years in a system that was meant to keep your spirits down. Daily fights, drugs, prostitution, was the program of the days in that shelter. I could write a book about it and one day I might.

I eventually gave up on a system that really was not designed to help the homeless. I left to another state. The state of New Jersey.In less than 3 weeks I found something. A small studio which I can can afford and call mine.

I want to thank Matthew Desmond for this book, it’s real and gritty the way life really is.

Again thank you for being a voice of the homeless and evicted.