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The main page says there's a housing crisis caused by COVID but then every single city, with one exception, shows a relatively sizeable decrease in number of fi

The main page says there's a housing crisis caused by COVID but then every single city, with one exception, shows a relatively sizeable decrease in number of filings. Maybe there's a lag in the data, but I don't understand why they would show the data like this if it didn't remotely correspond with their thesis.

thephyber 6y ago
When I clicked thru from main page to a municipality, I see > Eviction filings in Boston, MA have fallen sharply since eviction proceedings were suspended across Massachusetts on March 17. I think it's perfectly fine (even more desirable) to show accurate data rather than only show data which "corresponds with their thesis". It's probably more valuable to have the data for this lull before the homeless cliff happens.
- klmadfejno 6y ago
  I mean, yeah, obviously you should show all of the data. But if the data is that across the board, evictions are down, you shouldn't headline it with "In the midst of a pandemic, a growing number of families face the threat of eviction.". The opposite is true. The point that eviction proceedings are suspended is also totally relevant, and their thesis in the long term may be accurate. But their way of showing data here is counterproductive to conveying that understanding. Worse, if we imagine that the pandemic has had no impact on evictions and that things will just resume to normal levels once the suspensions are over, the dashboard is going to flare red and look apocalyptic. For the record, I do think the pandemic is going to have a fairly severe impact on housing problems. I just don't think this is a good way to show it. You need charts over time with well labeled events that are affecting the data.
rurp 6y ago
From the site... >Some states have passed temporary eviction moratoria >Once these measures expire, however, millions of renters will owe significant amounts of back rent. For many, a displacement and eviction crisis will follow the public health crisis.
caymanjim 6y ago
Eviction courts have been closed in NJ for months. Same is true in many states and localities.

thephyber 6y ago

When I clicked thru from main page to a municipality, I see > Eviction filings in Boston, MA have fallen sharply since eviction proceedings were suspended across Massachusetts on March 17. I think it's perfectly fine (even more desirable) to show accurate data rather than only show data which "corresponds with their thesis". It's probably more valuable to have the data for this lull before the homeless cliff happens.

klmadfejno 6y ago
I mean, yeah, obviously you should show all of the data. But if the data is that across the board, evictions are down, you shouldn't headline it with "In the midst of a pandemic, a growing number of families face the threat of eviction.". The opposite is true. The point that eviction proceedings are suspended is also totally relevant, and their thesis in the long term may be accurate. But their way of showing data here is counterproductive to conveying that understanding. Worse, if we imagine that the pandemic has had no impact on evictions and that things will just resume to normal levels once the suspensions are over, the dashboard is going to flare red and look apocalyptic. For the record, I do think the pandemic is going to have a fairly severe impact on housing problems. I just don't think this is a good way to show it. You need charts over time with well labeled events that are affecting the data.

rurp 6y ago

From the site... >Some states have passed temporary eviction moratoria >Once these measures expire, however, millions of renters will owe significant amounts of back rent. For many, a displacement and eviction crisis will follow the public health crisis.

caymanjim 6y ago

Eviction courts have been closed in NJ for months. Same is true in many states and localities.