The Eviction Lab
Making the Hidden Visible — One Data Point at a Time
The Eviction Lab, founded by sociologist Matthew Desmond, is the first nationwide database of eviction records in the United States. But more than just a research initiative, it’s a powerful act of truth-telling — putting numbers to the reality that millions of Americans are pushed from their homes each year, often invisibly.
At The Change Lab, we see The Eviction Lab as a key partner in building a more just, informed, and connected society. Their work helps us understand how housing instability, poverty, and structural racism show up in communities — not just in theory, but block by block, zip code by zip code.
Through interactive maps, policy briefs, and open data tools, The Eviction Lab makes it possible for community organizers, researchers, journalists, and neighbors to access the information they need to advocate for change and build housing justice from the ground up.
What They Offer
National and local eviction data, downloadable and mappable
Policy Scorecards to track how states are addressing housing precarity
Reports on trends, causes, and racial disparities in eviction
Tools for journalists and advocates to tell the story clearly and powerfully
Why It Belongs in The Change Lab’s Resource Center
Understanding eviction is understanding how power moves. It’s where housing justice, economic insecurity, and community health intersect.
The Eviction Lab equips us to not only witness what's happening — but to act. Their work aligns with our civic engagement pathways:
Learn → about eviction trends, local policies, and systemic drivers
Reflect → on how housing access connects to belonging, dignity, and opportunity
Connect → with local coalitions and campaigns to end eviction
Act → using data to shape policy, lift up stories, and push for stronger protections
When we talk about ending the need for food banks, we’re also talking about ending the conditions that push people into crisis. Housing is part of that equation. The Eviction Lab helps us see the whole picture — and take action.
