Few facets of our society offer a better display of the depravity of capitalism than the housing industry.

Recently, the Grenfell Tower tragedy killed hundreds of poor people and displaced hundreds more in London. In the United States, we have also seen the displacement of thousands, if not millions, in the wake of the financial crisis. While entire city blocks lay vacant, people sleep on the street or bounce from place to place in search of permanent housing.

This is not a coincidence; the neoliberal agenda treats housing not as a fundamental right, but as a commodity. And in a city like Philadelphia, in neighborhoods like Point Breeze, the devastating effects of that commodification are on full display.