Evicted: Important People

Arleen

Throughout the text, Arleen epitomizes the struggle to find housing as a poor mother with children, to whom few are willing to rent. She and her two youngest, Jori and Jafaris, move into one of Sherrena’s properties where she meets Trisha, a young woman who is on SSI for disability. She later lives with Crystal, in the same building, after she is evicted from her own place.

Crystal

A tenant in the same building as Arleen who has emotional issues and an IQ of seventy. She lets Arleen and her boys live with her for a short time, but the relationship is quite volatile. Crystal’s friendships often end in violent altercations.

Sherrena

The owner and manager of the rental properties on the North Side of Milwaukee, which is predominantly poor Black families. Through initiative, savvy, and ruthlessness, Sherrena has acquired over 100 rental units that most landlords would find repulsive.

Lamar

An older Black man with prosthetic legs. He lives with two of his sons, both teenagers, and tries to mentor other neighborhood boys. He attempts to make improvements to his and other units in the complex to offset his rent, but his landlord Sherrena usually finds ways to avoid paying him what he is owed.

Doreen

Mother to Patrice, Natasha, C.J., and Ruby. She and Patrice’s three children live together in a unit beside Lamar. Their unit hosts many issues including damaged plumbing and broken appliances, but the fact that they are behind on rent renders them unable to get any help from their landlord Sherrena, the result of which is that they must live in a place that would otherwise be declared unfit for human habitation.

Tobin

Owner of the College Mobile Home Park on the South Side of Milwaukee, which is made up of predominantly poor white families. Tobin is brought before a hearing due to the state of the trailer park and frequent police calls. He agrees to get professional management for the park and eventually sell it.

Lenny

Manager of the College Mobile Home Park, with his assistant, “Office Susie.”

Scott

A former nurse who became addicted to opiates and lost his license. Initially, he lives with Teddy, an older disabled man, at the College Mobile Home Park. Scott struggles with his addiction and depression, which makes it difficult for him to find work or a place to live.

Ned and Pam

Tenants at the College Mobile Home Park who become evicted and try to live with Scott temporarily, until he is also evicted. They have four children, and Pam is pregnant.

Larraine

A middle aged woman who is evicted from the College Mobile Home Park. She has a strained relationship with her siblings and daughters, since she has borrowed money from them in the past and failed to pay it back.

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