Written by Lucero Benitez, COSS Communications Specialist
Image: VPR/ Faith in the Valley

Dr. Amber Crowell, Sociology Assistant Professor and Dr. Janine Nkosi, Sociology lecturer have been conducting research on evictions in the Central Valley along with service-learning students, and leaders from community organizations Faith in the Valley, Central California Legal Services, and Leadership Counsel.

Their study has shown the Central Valley does not have an adequate supply of safe, decent, and affordable housing units to meet the needs of the community, and without coordinated action at all levels of government, tenants and low-income homeowners, quality housing options will continue to shrink. 

In the study, the following questions about eviction trends and patterns in Fresno County are addressed:

  • How many evictions happen annually in Fresno County?
  • What amount of money do renters commonly owe when evicted?
  • What proportion of tenants have legal representation in court versus landlords?
  • What are the main reasons that renters are evicted?
  • What proportion of evicted renters have a housing subsidy?
  • Where are evictions concentrated in Fresno County?
  • How do eviction rates vary by race or ethnicity?
  • What is the relationship between evictions and rent burdens?
Their research has already made a big impact in the community and has gotten attention from several media outlets. Here are a few stories the media has focused on to address eviction problems.
KVPR interview with Dr. Janine Nkosi, Dr. Amber Crowell and Patience Milrod (Central CA Legal Services): New Study ‘Evicted in Fresno’ Finds Highest Rates of Evictions Are in South Fresno
Fresno Bee op-ed written by Dr. Janine Nkosi and Dr. Amber Crowell: Evicted in Fresno: A complex story of economic burden- and profit
Fresno Bee letters to the editor written by Fresno State students: Why evictions harm renters: Letters to the editor, Nov. 3, 2019
Fresno Bee article covering the evictions research by Dr. Janine Nkosi and Dr. Amber Crowell expanding on the local story:  30 tenants received eviction notices in Madera ahead of new California law. Here’s why
New York Times article quotes Dr. Amber Crowell in their story: As rents outrun pay, California families live on a knife’s edge