Analysis of Segregation and Housing Evictions in San Francisco and Los Angeles

 3-5 pages of text (double-spaced, 12-point standard font, with no greater than 1” margins) 

You can have additional pages of maps, graphs, images, etc., for this assignment, and they will not count towards the page limit. 

Make sure to cite any course readings or outside sources in your paper. You must have in-text citations and a bibliography, which will also not count towards the page limit. There is no one specific template or format for the citations, and you may choose whichever format you prefer (e.g., APA, MLA, etc.). Citations should be thorough and consistent in the paper. 

The main objective of the research paper is to analyze a selected neighborhood or locality in relation to the course materials. For example, how do certain concepts from the course shed light on your understanding of a neighborhood or locality? How does your research on a specific neighborhood or locality help you better understand the course concepts? Can you provide empirical evidence from outside research that supports your argument?

a) You must use 2-3 readings from the course for the paper. You may pick any 2-3 readings from the course for your paper. A strong paper will pick concepts, ideas, arguments from the course readings to better understand the neighborhood or locality discussed in your paper.

b) You must use 5-6 outside sources for the paper. Outside materials may come from a variety of sources including newspapers, magazines, academic literature, publications from government and non-governmental organizations, social media, and other formats. Addressing potential biases, shortcomings, or interests in your sources will only help strengthen your paper and help you defend your choice of course readings that you find most relevant for your paper.

General Structure for the Paper (50 points total):

Introduction and Thesis:

Introduction clearly states the basic info of the topic (who, what, when, etc.) (2 points).

Narrow and focused topic (e.g., specific place and specific issue) (3 points)

Clearly stated and specific thesis statement that highlights the particular argument you are making in the paper. This should be stated at the end of the introduction (3 points).

Sources:

2-3 course sources with concepts clearly defined and explained in own words (8 points).

5-6 or more outside sources that provide empirical data or further support your paper (6 points).

Clarity of Argument (Body Paragraphs):

Well-structured paper that relates directly to the thesis stated in the introduction (8 points).

Clearly explained connection between selected course concepts and topic of discussion (8 points).

Use of concrete examples to support argument (6 points).

Conclusion:

Restate thesis statement and key findings of paper (2 points).

State any potential ideas for further research based on your paper (2 points).

Citations:

In-text citations and bibliography page at end of paper with consistent format (2 points).

NOTES 

Segregation Measured Massey and Denton (1993)

indicators for segregation:

Unevenness – distribution of racial/ethnic categories living across city ○ Proportion of X group in one area as compared to other areas of city (i.e., Dissimilarity) ○ Represents # of people needed to move from minority to majority area to dec. segregation

Isolation – proportion of racial/ethnic category living in the same area ○ How likely to encounter someone of same race in same area (i.e., Exposure)

Clustered – continuous enclave of all X area

Concentrated – condensed and specific areas of residence

Centralization – around inner city (associated with decline)

Segregation and Evictions (Desmond)

Low-income, women of color (Black especially) vulnerable to evictions

Structural conditions ○ Incarceration and criminal records prevent Black men from acquiring leases ○ Precarious labor and vulnerability to financial crises ○ Disproportionate housing and child-raising costs in relation to income ○ Lack of legal protections and enforcement of tenant rights

Intersectional (racial and gendered) interactions ○ Landlords have easier time approaching and removing Black women tenants

Homelessness

Increasing rates of homelessness in the US ○ 83,000 people became homeless in 2019 in the US (51% increase from year before) ○ 14% increase in homeless population in LA from 2018-2019 (estimated between 40,000-70,000)

Disproportionate representation of Black population ○ 7.4% of LA county but 33.4% of estimated homeless population

These statistics are prior to Covid-19 crisis of high unemployment and potential mass evictions