To the Editor:

Every pew in Nassau Presbyterian Church was packed as the community gathered last month to hear Prof. Matt Desmond discuss his new, must-read book, Poverty, By America with Prof. Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, who we are excited to hear will be rejoining Princeton’s faculty this summer. Thank you to the Princeton Public Library and Labyrinth Books for co-sponsoring this event, to the Princeton community for showing up in force, and to everyone who purchased books, as the proceeds are being split between HomeFront and our organization, Housing Initiatives of Princeton (HIP).

The thesis of Poverty, By America is that the scourge of poverty in our country can only be solved by addressing economic and racial inequalities perpetuated by wealthier communities like ours here in Princeton. Prof. Desmond calls on each of us to take action by advocating for the building of affordable housing in our neighborhoods and supporting organizations like HIP that are helping to increase access to stable housing and economic prosperity.

Research from Prof. Desmond’s Eviction Lab informs the work of HIP. For example, we offer rental assistance without requiring an eviction filing because we know the damage an eviction filing can cause by preventing a family from getting housing in the future.

We invite interested community members to learn more about our work by attending our Spring Fundraiser on April 30, featuring the Eviction Lab’s Matt Mleczko. Tickets and more information can be found on our website: housinginitiativesofprinceton.org.

Kathleen Gittleman
Executive Director, HIP
Honey Brook Drive

Liz Lempert
Board Chair, HIP
Meadowbrook Drive