Steven Schmidt

Steven Schmidt is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology at Boston University. Previously, he was a National Science Foundation (NSF) SBE Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Southern California. His research focuses on housing inequities, family wellbeing, and the intersection of immigration with urban and family sociology. He employs qualitative methods, particularly in-depth interviews, to study how rental housing markets and criminal-legal systems exacerbate social inequalities. His work emphasizes Latino/a/x immigrant families and their struggles in accessing stable housing and navigating systemic barriers.

Education:

• Ph.D., Sociology, University of California, Irvine (2022)
• A.B., Spanish, Kenyon College (2015)

Research Interests: Schmidt examines how housing affordability crises, immigration status, and incarceration impact family stability. His current book manuscript, Priced In, explores Latino immigrant families' housing strategies in Los Angeles County, highlighting trade-offs they make to avoid displacement. He bridges urban sociology with family studies, emphasizing marginalized communities' resilience and systemic barriers.

Grants & Awards:

• NSF SBE Postdoctoral Fellowship
• John Randolph and Dora Haynes Foundation
• USC Lusk Center for Real Estate
• UC-MEXUS

Labs/Teams: Collaborates with interdisciplinary teams on housing policy and criminal justice reform, leveraging qualitative data to inform equitable urban policies.