The document summarizes lessons learned from the U.S. experience providing public housing since the 1930s. It discusses early challenges like racial segregation and poor construction. The HOPE VI program from 1993-2011 demolished distressed housing and rebuilt mixed-income, mixed-finance developments with private funding. This approach led to successes like improved structures, reduced crime, and social services for residents. Key lessons highlighted are the importance of collaboration, mixed-use new urbanism design, green initiatives, resident participation, and investing in quality affordable housing. The Choice Neighborhoods program applies these lessons on a broader scale.

1. U.S. Department of Housing
and Urban Development
Sandra Henriquez, Assistant Secretary,
Office of Public and Indian Housing

2. Public Housing in the U.S.
Reflections and Lessons Learned

3. Public Housing in the U.S:
Reflections and Lessons Learned
 U.S. providing housing for the poor since
the 1930s
 Experienced successes, but also
challenges and mistakes
 Reflecting on lessons learned to improve
for the future
 Our lessons may help Taipei and others
with housing efforts

4. The Beginnings of U.S.
Public Housing (1930s)
•Goal: Decent, Safe, and
Sanitary Housing
•Actions:
-Tear down old tenement
housing
•Build new housing
-Construction/operations
funded by the
government
-Housing owned by
Public Housing
Authorities (PHAs)

5. Challenges
Isolation
Disrepair
Lack of services
Racial segregation

6. Challenges (Continued)
•Developments out
of place with
surroundings
•Poor construction
•Lack of amenities
•High crime

7. A New Direction
 Challenge:
(1) Overcrowded, basic
construction of housing
does not work
(2) Residents need services
 Action: Government
provides resources to
Tear down poor
housing
+
Rebuild sensibly

8. A NEW DIRECTION…

9. Innovation: HOPE VI Program
 Government funds tear down 100,000 units
of distressed public housing
+
Rebuild with new units
 $6.28 billion in HOPE VI Revitalization
Grant funding, from 1993-2011
 $22 to $50 million per project
 Over 300 projects funded in different
neighborhoods across U.S.

10. HOPE VI Objectives
Washington
D.C.
•Improve building
structures
•End overcrowding
•Provide social
services to families
•Make improvements
last

11. Indianapolis, Indiana
Before
After

12. Chicago, Illinois
Before
After

13. San Francisco, California
Before
After

14. HOPE VI Successes
 Demolished and rebuilt worst public housing in
the U.S.
 112,243 homes created
◦ 52,287 public housing rental units
◦ 6,255 public housing homeownership units
◦ 25,855 other affordable rental units
◦ 7,077 other affordable homeownership units
◦ 9,212 market rate rental units
◦ 11,557 market rate homeownership units
 Lesson: Mixed-Finance/Mixed-Income
developments most successful

15. Mixed-Income Development
 Development that includes both public
housing and non-public housing units
Seattle, Washington

16. Mixed-Finance Development
 Development built
with both public and
private funds
 Public funds leverage
private funds
 As of March 2011,
HOPE VI grantees
have expended $9.89
billion in additional
leveraged funds,
mostly from non-
Federal sources
$2.85
billion
$7.04
billion
Federal
Non-
Federal

17. Success: New Urbanism Design
 Mixed-used
developments:
retail + education
+ living +
recreation
 Attractive design
 Walkable

18. Success: Partnership with other
Stakeholders
 Government (Federal, state, local)
 Housing Authority
 Banks
 Developers
 Businesses
 Social service providers
 Residents

19. Going Beyond Public Housing
 More than just a
housing issue
 Case management is
key to resident well-
being
 Residents receive job
training, healthcare
and other services
 Quality housing +
resident services =
thriving communities

20. Resident Participation
 Residents are
involved in the
planning process:
Before the
application is
submitted
While the grant is
being implemented
After the funding
is spent

21. Lesson: Collaboration Key to
Maximum Impact
 Through HOPE VI
and other
programs, HUD
has developed
relationships with
other Federal
agencies
 Agencies combine
resources to meet
resident needs
(housing, health,
safety, employment
etc.)

22. American Recovery and Reinvestment
Act (ARRA): Housing + Job Creation
+ Green Initiatives
 ARRA invested $13.6 billion in HUD
programs to create jobs and jumpstart the
economy while improving housing
 To date, ARRA has created 7,095 jobs
across the U.S.
 $4 billion infusion into public housing

23. ARRA Green Initiatives
 ARRA funds allow
PHAs to “go green”
 Funds used to replace
building systems, reduce
energy consumption
 Provides residents with
healthy, safe living
environments
 Significant energy cost
savings for residents

24. ARRA: Lessons Learned
 Many benefits of “going green”
-Saves residents money
-Improves resident health
-Helps the environment
 Improvements are maximized when
tailored to a particular area
-What works best in dry Arizona
may not be best for humid Seattle
 More than just housing: stimulates the
economy

25. Applying the Lessons Learned:
Choice Neighborhoods Initiative
Best of
HOPE VI +
ARRA
•Transforming
distressed public
housing
•Mixed income
communities
•Mixed financing
•Green Innovation
•Job Creation
Lessons &
Innovations
•Other assisted
housing
•Comprehensive
planning
•More eligible
applicants
Choice
Neighborhoods

26. Choice Neighborhoods
Supports comprehensive
planning
• Investment in and
partnership with
schools, hospitals, local
service providers
• Proximity to jobs,
services and
transportation
• Green and healthy
homes

27. What We’ve Learned: Key Ingredients for
Successful Housing
• Mixed-income
• Green
development
• Partnership with
private sources
• Leverage $$
• Resident services

28. What We’ve Learned: Investing in
Quality Affordable Housing Now
Saves Money Later
 It is estimated that over a 20-year period, a
HOPE VI development can save taxpayers
$22 million by creating:
-Quality housing
-Safer neighborhoods
-Job opportunities
-Increased educational
opportunities
 Public + private investment = widespread
lasting improvement

29. Thank you!
Office of Public Housing Investments, Public and
Indian Housing