This is a book on the housing market in Milwaukee (but things should translate to most urban areas in the US, outside of special cases like NYC/Bay area). In particular, it is centered on the absolute bottom of the market - the two focuses are a poor black neighborhood in the inner city as well as a "white trash" trailer park. Evictions and the hardships around it (search for new housing, changing school for the kids, disrupted neighborhoods etc.) are a constant in these areas.

While the book was written by an academic and has tons of footnotes etc. linking to research; it is written in an almost novel like way - the main characters being poor people bouncing houses between evictions, falling behind in rent, freezing in apartments without heat etc., as well as their landlords which are also developed as characters. Their struggles (renters not paying, property being demolished, weird bureaucracy and regulations) are also covered. While the sympathy of the author (as well as the reader I suppose) is clearly on the side of the tenants, the landlords are not cartoon figures, which I appreciated.

I really enjoyed reading it, the vicious cycle of poverty (evictions leading to a harder time finding new housing etc.) is described in a clear way, and all the characters are very lively and come across as very "human" if that makes sense.

Would certainly recommend, it is an easy read (certainly gut-wrenching at times though) and often quite emotional/touching. Also a nice view on race from a primarily economic standpoint with the distinction of the white trash trailer part and the black inner city neighborhood.