Gentrification Sucks!

Have you ever wondered if gentrification is reversible?  Gentrification is the process of renovating and improving a house or district so that it conforms to middle-class taste (Gentrification). According to Merriam Webster, “The gentrification process is typically the result of increasing attraction to an area by people with higher incomes spilling over from neighboring cities, towns, or neighborhoods”(Webster). This effect then causes low-income families to move and makes it impossible for them to live in their once cheaper neighborhoods.Gentrification is a big problem for low-income families because it causes increased rent prices and displacement and this increases their stress level because of the financial burden.

Firstly, gentrification causes increased rent and potential for displacement. According to Kath Richard’s article, The Forces Driving Gentrification in Oakland states  “Rent prices cause displacement because people who live with low-income households are usually in low-income communities but then high-income families come into those low-income communities which then makes the landlords raise up the price to get more profit as well. And then these low-income families won’t be able to pay the rent which causes them to move/causing displacement” (Richards)  Richards clearly states that due to the fact that rent prices go up cause misplacement because low-income families can’t afford the new price. Additionally, in an interview with Christin Castorena, an Oakland resident, he talked about how he struggles with keeping a house for more than two months because of rent prices skyrocketing through the roof. Castorena stated, “I hate it how I have to keep moving because of rent price increasing every month it’s hard to live in Oakland” (Castorena). This individual is experiencing having to move due to gentrification, showing that it’s impossible for him to flee from his problems. Therefore, gentrification is creating harmful displacement.

Secondly, because of the increased rent due to gentrification Oakland residents are experiencing more stress. In an interview, it confirms that gentrification is a critical problem for low-income families. On November 28th, Alejandro, a single father struggling to feed his children who had to move out of his home because of rent problems explained how he is working in a low-income job that is very intense because he is having to work double hours just to feed his three kids. Alejandro stated, “It’s almost impossible to try and feed my kids while I’m working late at night and leaving them home alone, running a huge risk of something happening to them”(Alejandro). Alejandro’s stress is insane and I would never want to be in a situation that he is in right now, I can’t imagine having to worry that much for something or someone important.

Furthermore, Yovani Buñuelos, who was interviewed on December 1st, 2019 talked about how he is struggling to help his mother pay the rent due to the fact that it has increased majorly. Bunuelos has also talked to me about how being a son of a single mother is hard because now he has to work to help his mother to keep the house and since he is still in school, it’s hard to keep up with both things. Bunuelos stated, “I hate having to try to keep up with my studies and working at the same time I run a risk of getting fired for being late one too many times.”(Buñuelos). Bunuelos has shown how terrible Gentrification has impacted his education and everyday life. And has shown how critical it would be for him to lose his job. Gentrification is a big problem for low-income families because it causes increased stress.

In conclusion, gentrification is a big problem for low-income families because it causes increased rent prices and displacement and this increases their stress level because of the financial burden. I can connect to this because when I was smaller my family had to move twice because of rent price increasing majorly and it impacted my parents because they had to work double the hours than what they already were working, and they always came home very tired.

Annotated Bibliography

Guerrero, Ivan, and Christian Castorena. “Gentrification Interview.” 2019.

This Interviewee is talking about how gentrification is a big problem for him and how it caused him to move because of high rent price. Some evidence he gave us was that he stated: “I hate it how I have to keep moving because of rent price increasing every month it’s hard to live in Oakland”(Christian). Christian is a credible source because he clearly stated to me that he had to move more than once due to the fact of how rent expenses skyrocketed after white people offered the houses in his area.

Guerrero, Ivan, and Alejandro. “Gentrification as a Single Father.” 2019.

This interviewee is talking about how it’s hard to deal with rent prices being so high and how it’s even harder science he is a single father. Alejandro stated, “It’s almost impossible to try and feed my kids while I’m working late at night and leaving them home alone running a huge risk of something happening to them.”Alejandro is credible because he is talking about how he goes through stress every night while at work just worrying about his kids’ safety.

Guerrero, Ivan, and Yovani Bunuelos. “Gentrification as a Son of a Single Mother.” 2019.

This interviewee is talking about his struggles as a son with a single mom, Yovani stated, “I hate having to try to keep up with my studies and working at the same time I run a risk of getting fired for being late one to many times”(Yovani). Yovani is credible because he has shown how bad Gentrification has impacted his education and everyday life. And has shown how critical it would be for him to lose his job.

“Gentrification.” Kath-Richards, Kath-Richards www.kath-richards.com/gentrification.

According to Kath Richards article, “The Urban Displacement Project notes that there are numerous ancient examples of institutionalized racism that created the situations for gentrification, inclusive of redlining a system of actual estate funding that began inside the Nineteen Thirties and resulted in people of shade being denied access to home loans” (Richards). This article is credible because it is published on 2013 secondly it come from people who have investigated the problem of gentrification and why it is such a big impact and the purpose of this article is to teach young kids and teenagers why gentrification is problematic.

“Gentrification.” Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gentrification.

This article explains what is causing gentrification. According to Merriam Webster “The gentrification system is usually the end result of growing attraction to an area by means of humans with higher earning spilling over from neighboring towns, towns, or neighborhoods In addition to these ability blessings, gentrification can lead to populace migration and displacement”(Webster). This article is credible because it was made in 2012 and it’s being said by someone that has been studying the cause of gentrification for years, the purpose of this article is to teach those who have yet unanswered questions about gentrification.