Housing has historically been central to the lives of
impoverished communities. For several decades, however, scholars
of poverty had not fully appreciated how housing dynamics shape
the life conditions of people in low-income communities. In
recent years, many countries (including the U.S.) have
experienced an acute housing crisis that placed a significant
burden on poor families. In response to these developments,
scholars of poverty have begun to explore the prevalence,
sources, and consequences of housing insecurity for low-income
families and communities.
