President’s Statement Commending the Work of Cori Bush on Housing, Homelessness, and the Eviction Moratorium

Women's International League for Peace and Freedom
United States Section

August 12, 2021 

We, WILPF US, in session in our 34th Triennial Congress, thank Congresswoman Cori Bush for her principled leadership. Taking action in a time of need, she is a model.  Let the rest of the members of the U.S. Congress join her and unify for the common good.  We must extend a full moratorium on evictions!  

We can be proud that our nation led in authoring Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  Now we demand that the United States act in accordance with international laws.  Article 25 states:  “Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of [them]self and of [their] family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond [their] control. Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance.”  

WILPF US is in solidarity with Congresswoman Bush and encourages other elected officials to be inspired by her compassion.  Millions in the U.S. are at risk.  While some other factors – including race and socio-economic status – influence the likelihood of eviction, women and children are the most affected.  Housing evictions lead not only to loss of employment but also contribute to depression, family separation, and even suicide.  

At a time when we see glimmers of hope from the $3.5 trillion social infrastructure bill, an eviction moratorium gives people the chance to retain housing while the economy revives. The millions seeking good jobs, reliable childcare, and services for our elders may find these in the future.  For now protecting housing is a basic starting point. 

        Darien Elyse De Lu, President
        Women's International League for Peace and Freedom US
        August 12, 2021, at 34th Triennial WILPF US Congress

Further Information

See: Eviction Lab link for helpful information to stop an eviction https://evictionlab.org/questions/#are-renters-protected  

Watch: Two Minute Video on “Why Evictions Matter” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7f9dqQBYjcA  

Derby et al. (2006), Desmond (2012) studies, and Desmond & Gershenson (2016) link evictions to loss of employment and to contributing to family separation, depression, and (in extreme cases) suicide.  

Desmond (2012) and (2013) and Desmond & Gershenson study (2016) indicate that evictions particularly affect women and children and that factors of race, socio-economic status and rental payment history influence the likelihood of eviction.

Michael Derby & al., “Eviction as a Risk Factor for Suicide” (2006) Vol 57 Psychiatric Services Page 273

Matthew Desmond & al., “Evicting children” (2013) Vol 92 Issue 1 Social Forces Page 303  

Matthew Desmond, Eviction and the reproduction of urban poverty (2012) Vol 118 Issue 1 Am J Soc Page 88  

Matthew Desmond & Carl Gershenson, Housing and Employment Insecurity Among the Working Poor