The enhanced federal unemployment checks have expired. But tens of millions remain unemployed, even with the economy recklessly reopening in places. The eviction moratoria, if they were put in place at the beginning of the pandemic at all, are being lifted. And the landlords are proceeding to evict.

Piles of belongings are appearing on sidewalks and curbs. There’s a new name for them: eviction cairns. Cabinets stacked on mattresses stacked on vacuum cleaners. They can’t go where the tenants are going. There isn’t room, because the tenants are moving into the spare rooms and onto the couches of family and friends, or into residential motels — if they’re lucky.

Some are sleeping in their cars. Others are sleeping in shelters. Still more are sleeping on the ground. They have been, in every sense, tossed out. Tossed out of the economy. Tossed out of their homes. Tossed out like refuse.