History of Public Housing in Chicago By: Ray Hess

In The Beginning The initial goal of public housing: Provide decent housing for poor and low income households. The initial goal of public housing: Provide decent housing for poor and low income households. Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) founded in Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) founded in Responsible for all public housing in Chicago. Responsible for all public housing in Chicago.

First Public Housing Projects Made possible by the Public Works Administration & then the federal Housing Act of 1937 Made possible by the Public Works Administration & then the federal Housing Act of 1937 Prior to World War II, there were four projects. Prior to World War II, there were four projects.

Projects Opened in 1938 Jane Addams Houses Jane Addams Houses –Near West Side –Comprised of 32 buildings –1,027 families

Projects Opened in 1938 Julia C. Lathrop Homes Julia C. Lathrop Homes –North Side –925 Families Trumbull Park Homes Trumbull Park Homes –Far South Side –426 Families

The Other Project Ida B. Wells Homes Ida B. Wells Homes –Built for black families –Far larger than other projects –Housed 1,662 families –Met with much opposition

Racial Segregation The Neighborhood Composition Rule The Neighborhood Composition Rule Managers were selective in choosing tenants from applicants Managers were selective in choosing tenants from applicants Had to be one employed breadwinner in the family Had to be one employed breadwinner in the family Tenants had to behave according to prescribed rules Tenants had to behave according to prescribed rules

World War II CHA was redirected to create housing for workers in the war industry CHA was redirected to create housing for workers in the war industry Altgeld Gardens Altgeld Gardens –Built in Riverdale –1,500 units –Black War Workers

Post World War II CHA provides several thousand units of temporary housing for Veterans CHA provides several thousand units of temporary housing for Veterans Neighborhood composition rule was abandoned Neighborhood composition rule was abandoned –Short-lived policy of racial integration was introduced –A series of violent white/black confrontations resulted

Housing Act of 1949 Provided substantial funding for public housing Provided substantial funding for public housing CHA was ready with a map of proposed sites CHA was ready with a map of proposed sites City council rejected this map altogether City council rejected this map altogether

1950’s & 1960’s High-rise projects took one basic form High-rise projects took one basic form Larger than earlier developments Larger than earlier developments Averaging about 1,027 apartments Averaging about 1,027 apartments Most were built in superblocks Most were built in superblocks Many projects reached stories in height Many projects reached stories in height In style, they were modern, but plain In style, they were modern, but plain

1950’s & 1960’s Cabrini-Green Cabrini-Green –Began with 586 units in 1942 –Extension was built in 1958 –William Green homes built on adjacent site in 1962

The State Street Corridor Narrow zone of public housing Narrow zone of public housing More than 4 miles long More than 4 miles long The Corridor included: The Corridor included: –Stateway Gardens (1958) –Robert Taylor Homes (1962)

CHA Building Stats By 1968, CHA built 168 high rise buildings By 1968, CHA built 168 high rise buildings Approximately 19,700 apartments for families Approximately 19,700 apartments for families

Gautreaux v. CHA Tenants sue CHA Tenants sue CHA Agency was continuing racial segregation by building projects in the ghetto Agency was continuing racial segregation by building projects in the ghetto Federal judge banned CHA from building additional family housing in black residential areas Federal judge banned CHA from building additional family housing in black residential areas Agency was ordered to build housing elsewhere in the city Agency was ordered to build housing elsewhere in the city

CHA after Gautreaux Almost all housing built by CHA was for elderly tenants Almost all housing built by CHA was for elderly tenants Housing that could be built in white sections of the city Housing that could be built in white sections of the city Between 1959 & 1976, 46 developments, totaling 9,607, units were built. Between 1959 & 1976, 46 developments, totaling 9,607, units were built.

1990’s HUD takes control of the CHA HUD takes control of the CHA –Mismanagement and poor performance were two main reasons HUD introduces radical change of policy HUD introduces radical change of policy Between ’96 & ’97, several high rise buildings were demolished Between ’96 & ’97, several high rise buildings were demolished CHA eventually gained control of the federal government CHA eventually gained control of the federal government CHA undertook continued demolition and redevelopment plans CHA undertook continued demolition and redevelopment plans

Cabrini-Green Today