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The Eviction Lab is helping neighbors and policymakers understand the eviction crisis. Follow us for the latest housing research + news.
RT ≠ endorsement.
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Read the full study below:
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
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Research is clear: moving and changing schools can delay learning and lead to negative outcomes.
Now we know that even the threat of eviction can push kids into tougher school environments and lead to more absences and suspensions.
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This study is based on eviction filings — a step before an actual judgment — showing that even the threat of losing your home can have a real impact.
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These estimates are likely conservative and the numbers should be higher, as many students who experience housing instability might not be identified in the databases.
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Finally, students facing eviction also got suspended more often, but we only found this effect for students who switched schools.
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In the year their parents received an eviction filing, students had two more absences than expected. Since students average just over seven absences per year, this is a meaningful increase in missed school days.
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In addition, students moving after an eviction went to schools with lower scores on standardized tests than students who moved for other reasons.
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These schools also had significantly higher attrition rates, the sort of routine student turnover that can be disruptive to learning.
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An eviction could also force students into tougher conditions: according to our analysis, evicted students often end up on campuses with lower per-pupil budgets.
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12.3% of kids whose parents were filed against for eviction finished the current academic year in a different school than they started in. This is almost three times higher than students not facing eviction.
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Our analysis found that eviction or even the threat of an eviction can force kids to leave their school, many times for under-resourced campuses. Losing their homes can also lead to more absences and suspensions.
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To study the link between evictions and education, we analyzed hundreds of thousands of records in Houston, including eviction court data and info from the Houston Independent School District — one of the largest school districts in the country.
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Read the full study here:
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
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RTC programs can stabilize housing, improve eviction courts, and boost tenant protections. But to succeed, they must focus on key ingredients—like funding and outreach—to create a fairer system for renters.
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When RTC works, it can transform housing courts. Instead of quick judgments that leave tenants helpless, the court becomes a space where they find support: resources, information, and a shot at justice.
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When done right, RTC programs become more than legal aid. Local actors said they helped create centralized intake systems — connecting tenants not just to attorneys, but to other services and resources they needed.
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It’s also crucial to use some of that funding for outreach. Tenants often don’t know their rights or that RTC exists.
From TikTok and radio ads to school visits and local events —successful programs actively engage with the community.
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One of the main factors that set successful programs apart from the others was money. Without sufficient funding, RTC programs struggled to meet tenant needs and fill attorney positions.
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Of the 23 programs in our study, 15 established limitations for who could receive the benefit. The most common of them was income level, but some also only helped people with children or families in public housing.
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But to date, not all programs are equal. There are major differences in who they can serve, how much funding they have, and at what stage of the eviction process they offer help.
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The reality is that, unlike tenants, landlords benefit from legal advice in 83% of cases nationwide. There’s a clear gap. However, when successful, RTC programs can create a more even playing field in housing court.
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Just a few weeks ago, Los Angeles became the latest of 25+ jurisdictions to approve an RTC program. Our study analyzed what these programs have in common and how to make them work.