Housing Instability and Homicide: Exploring Variation in Housing Indicators on Homicide and Rates of Urban Crime

Abstract

Housing instability has become increasingly important to the study of crime and homicide. Merging Eviction Lab, census, and crime data, we regress multiple measures of housing instability on homicide rates in large U.S. cities, and then comparatively with violent and property crime rates. After finding that evictions and rent burden are distinct indicators, we find that rent burden is directly related to homicide but also has a moderating relationship with economic deprivation. Evictions and other housing indicators are largely unrelated to crime. We conclude by discussing the implications of housing instability in the crime literature and directions for future research.