About ERN

We make things that can't be unseen.

Mission · Est 2018

From one eviction to a research network.

It started with a mother who was served an eviction notice, settled out of court, and continued to live in the residence for two more years. But the filing followed her—ultimately leading to denial of future housing. With support from the American Civil Liberties Union, her case exposed deep racial and gender disparities embedded in eviction practices.

Research in King County, Washington found that Black households were four times more likely than White households to receive eviction notices, and that Black women were five times more likely than White men to have an eviction case filed against them.

Building on this work, founder Tim Thomas began examining local eviction data and later expanded the analysis across Washington State and other regions. These findings have informed state and local policy, including Washington's extension of the eviction notice period from 3 to 14 days and the establishment of Right to Counsel in Baltimore City—reforms aimed at reducing preventable evictions and supporting fairer processes.

Redlined neighborhood zone map — a reminder of how historical housing policy shaped today's eviction patterns

The Eviction Research Network (ERN) specializes in making housing and eviction dynamics measurable and understandable. Through open-source tools, academic research, and collaboration with community organizations, service providers, and public agencies, ERN develops accessible data that clarifies where and for whom evictions are most likely to occur.

Similar patterns to those observed in Washington appear across many jurisdictions and reflect the long-term effects of historical housing policies and practices. Because stable housing underpins health, education, and overall well-being, these patterns have significant implications for communities' long-term outcomes. By identifying populations and neighborhoods at elevated risk of eviction at the local level, ERN supports data-informed strategies aimed at preventing displacement and strengthening housing stability.

What We Do

Putting numbers to disparities.

We collect, analyze, and visualize eviction data to put numbers to disparities left in the wake of historical injustice.

Fair-housing demonstrators holding signs calling for shelter as a human right

Data Preparation

We provide data and research expertise to collect, prepare, and process eviction data for sources who may not have the means to do so.

Maps & Analysis

We analyze the data we have collected and help other partners analyze data for disparities based on race, sex, and other factors. We then integrate that information into maps of the state that show disparities by region.

Network

We create relationships and work alongside partners to help understand their data, share our analysis, and otherwise interact in order to create a force for advocacy, made exponentially more powerful through the mutual amplification of our collective voices.

Advocacy

Equipped with undeniable statistics, we advise and champion policies aimed to address disproportionate impact of evictions on vulnerable populations and communities.

The Team