On August 26, 2021, the federal eviction moratorium ended for renters in Arizona. As of 2023, only about 5.5% of the population of Arizona is black, but black people make up 28% of evictions and 31% of eviction filings. This presentation will (1) evaluate eviction law as a structural determinant of health evidenced through legal ethnographic research sourcing from case law and archival research and (2) demonstrate disparities in eviction filings among black renters which is evidenced in statistical data from local and government agencies.

Early findings of this research support previous conclusions that Arizona housing law is landlord-friendly with few provisions or changes that would prioritize rental regulation. Most importantly, the eviction process is a predominant factor in the experienced mental health-related symptoms among black renters, due to the multi-step process of eviction and imminent feelings of being evicted. The findings imply that due to the lack of tenant protections, the racial wealth gap, and pandemic-related inequities, black renters will continue to be disproportionately impacted. Understanding the legal framework of eviction from a health equity lens will equip public health leaders and anti-eviction organizers to achieve their goals in pursuit of social justice and liberation.