A new study examined the profits of landlords across Milwaukee and compared them to landlord profits nationwide. They found that for every 10 percent increase in neighborhood poverty, renter exploitation increased by 2.2 percent in Milwaukee and 0.8 percent nationwide. What’s more, for every 10 percent increase in black residents, renter exploitation increased by 0.8 percent for both Milwaukee and the nation. This effect ensures that the poor remain poor; since the poor have no choice but to pay rent when they can, any money they could save up is instead siphoned away by landlords.