A new study by the University of Cincinnati-based The Cincinnati Project found that Hamilton County averaged 12,000 eviction filings each year. Some landlords say that avoiding eviction is as easy as paying the rent, but the study found that most of the evictions were occurring in some of the poorest communities in the county.
For people who live in poverty, paying the rent on time may not be as easy as it sounds. Childcare, bills and unexpected expenses can stretch an already thin income past the breaking point.
Even well-meaning people can find quickly find themselves falling behind on payments. The loss of a home can mean the loss one one's possessions -- either by selling one's items to earn money, or giving them away because there's no place to put them. Without a stable residence, people can lose even more, including their jobs, pushing them further into poverty.
Yes, there are landlords out there who have legitimate grounds to evict some tenants, but keeping residents in their homes is a much more complicated matter than just paying the rent.
Kevin Necessary is the editorial cartoonist for WCPO. His opinions do not reflect those of WCPO.
