Tuesday, June 9, 2009
The day Bowen Homes began coming down
Bowen Homes – with 101 buildings, 650 units and more than 900 residents – was built in 1964 at the peak of the nation’s commitment to public housing. It was the 12th housing project among the more than 40 built in Atlanta. But the visionary public policies of the New Deal gave way to misguided policies that transformed housing projects from centers of hope to virtual prisons of concentrated poverty. So, just as Atlanta was the first city to build public housing, so too will it be the first city to eradicate its large housing projects. As with all former residents of Atlanta Housing Authority projects, Bowen’s former tenants will move to homes of their choice, paying no more in rent than they did at the projects and with long-term assistance from AHA. June 3 not only was the day demolition began at Bowen Homes, it was also marked the beginning of the end of the last of the housing projects in Atlanta. Here are a few photographs from the commemoration event.
Media supportive of Bowen Homes demolition
The press turned out in force on June 3 when the razing of Bowen Homes began. Coverage included national reports on Fox News Network and Associated Press, as well as local coverage from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Atlanta Business Chronicle, several community newspapers and almost all of the city’s broadcast news outlets. Here are some of the reports:
Links to Report:
Monday, June 8, 2009
AHA CEO Renee Glover’s remarks on the June 3 commencement of the Bowen Homes demolition
Statement by
Renee Lewis Glover, President and CEO of Atlanta Housing Authority
Bowen Homes Demolition Ceremony
June 3, 2009
Renee Lewis Glover, President and CEO of Atlanta Housing Authority
Bowen Homes Demolition Ceremony
June 3, 2009
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
When Bowen Homes opened in March 1964, local media featured a series of glowing reports, declaring the new housing project a “milestone in fast-growing Atlanta;” a milestone, indeed. In the early 60's, the city remained deeply segregated and this property was designated for African-American families. Bowen Homes was built exclusively to house poor, black families displaced under the Urban Renewal programs and policies of the day.
Despite this horrific construct, families that moved here in the spring of '64 undoubtedly had great dreams for what was to become of their lives…the hope and promise that America offers.
Over time, poor public policies converged with failing social dynamics and a scourge of drugs and crime. Bowen Homes -- and every other large public housing project in Atlanta – was condemned to the same fateful nightmare. The housing projects built in the 1930's under the "New Deal" were just as destined as those built in the 1960's under the "Great Society."
In the end, concentrating the city's poorest most vulnerable citizens in an isolated, out of the way concrete warehouse and then lowering the standards -- not requiring people to work; and on and on -- has a way of stripping away personal pride and dignity.
Worse yet, it permits people who don’t live in places like Bowen Homes to view those who do as "…different from the rest of us."
In the end, of course, we're all children of God.
Today is the beginning of the end for large public housing projects in our city. Atlanta, which during the Great Depression was the first city to build public housing, by June 2010, will become the first major city in the nation to have eliminated all of its large public housing projects.
Last year we invited the families who lived in Bowen Homes to share their preferences with us. 98-percent of the families stated that they wanted the opportunity to leave Bowen Homes. In fact, they were so motivated to leave that they found homes and relocated nearly 3-months ahead of our schedule. They're paying they same amount of rent they paid to live here but are living in safer neighborhoods, with better schools, and in homes and communities they selected.
And this day is dedicated to their success and to their future.
-end-
Despite this horrific construct, families that moved here in the spring of '64 undoubtedly had great dreams for what was to become of their lives…the hope and promise that America offers.
Over time, poor public policies converged with failing social dynamics and a scourge of drugs and crime. Bowen Homes -- and every other large public housing project in Atlanta – was condemned to the same fateful nightmare. The housing projects built in the 1930's under the "New Deal" were just as destined as those built in the 1960's under the "Great Society."
In the end, concentrating the city's poorest most vulnerable citizens in an isolated, out of the way concrete warehouse and then lowering the standards -- not requiring people to work; and on and on -- has a way of stripping away personal pride and dignity.
Worse yet, it permits people who don’t live in places like Bowen Homes to view those who do as "…different from the rest of us."
In the end, of course, we're all children of God.
Today is the beginning of the end for large public housing projects in our city. Atlanta, which during the Great Depression was the first city to build public housing, by June 2010, will become the first major city in the nation to have eliminated all of its large public housing projects.
Last year we invited the families who lived in Bowen Homes to share their preferences with us. 98-percent of the families stated that they wanted the opportunity to leave Bowen Homes. In fact, they were so motivated to leave that they found homes and relocated nearly 3-months ahead of our schedule. They're paying they same amount of rent they paid to live here but are living in safer neighborhoods, with better schools, and in homes and communities they selected.
And this day is dedicated to their success and to their future.
-end-
For additional information about Bowen Homes and the Atlanta Model click here.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Comment period of Fiscal Year 2010 Moving To Work (MTW) CATALYST Annual Plan closed
The review and comment period for the Housing Authority of the City of Atlanta, Georgia (AHA) is now closed. The final Fiscal Year 2010 Moving to Work (MTW) Annual Plan (CATALYST Implementation Plan) will be posted on AHA’s website after the Board Approved Plan has been submitted to HUD. We anticipate the final Plan being available on our website in April 2009.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
The end of the beginning of the end
The Atlanta Housing Authority has received permission for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to demolish Roosevelt House, a 257-unit housing project. HUD notified AHA of its decision on Nov. 26. Roosevelt House was intended for elderly citizens, but over the years the non-elderly population has grown to more than half of the tenants. HUD determined the building was obsolete and that it would not be beneficial or cost-effective to attempt to salvage the structure.
With the decision on Roosevelt House, AHA completes a program initiated in the early 1990s to tear down Atlanta’s housing projects. This program was designed to deconcentrate poverty, and academic studies show that not only do former residents benefit from moving into mainstream housing – crime rates are lower, and educational and job success are greater – but there are large measurable positive impacts on the city.
Meanwhile, AHA is now providing housing to 6,000 more people, generally by rent vouchers, than it did before the demolition of projects began.
Atlanta in the 1930s was the first major city to build housing projects, and within the next few months it will be the first major city to eliminate its major housing projects. AHA will continue to operate two small family projects and a dozen senior citizen high-rise projects.
With the decision on Roosevelt House, AHA completes a program initiated in the early 1990s to tear down Atlanta’s housing projects. This program was designed to deconcentrate poverty, and academic studies show that not only do former residents benefit from moving into mainstream housing – crime rates are lower, and educational and job success are greater – but there are large measurable positive impacts on the city.
Meanwhile, AHA is now providing housing to 6,000 more people, generally by rent vouchers, than it did before the demolition of projects began.
Atlanta in the 1930s was the first major city to build housing projects, and within the next few months it will be the first major city to eliminate its major housing projects. AHA will continue to operate two small family projects and a dozen senior citizen high-rise projects.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
2008 Moving to Work Annual Report
The Atlanta Housing Authority (AHA) is pleased to share a copy of its FY 2008 Moving to Work (MTW) Annual Report highlights the agency’s year end accomplishments and ongoing commitment to healthy mixed-use, mixed-income communities and successful families.
To view the full report, click here.
To view the full report, click here.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Study: Moving out of projects improves residents' lives
Georgia Tech economics Professor Thomas D. "Danny" Boston has authored a study measuring the results of the Atlanta Housing Authority's program of deconcentrating poverty by tearing down obsolete projects and relocating tenants to housing of their choice. Not only did the former housing projects -- and especially their children -- benefit, but so did society as a whole.
Dr. Boston concludes:
Mixed income housing, housing choice vouchers
and project-based rental assistance greatly
improved the quality of life and the self-sufficiency
of AHA assisted families. Between 1995 and 2007,
the vast majority of families relocated to superior
neighborhoods, adult employment increased
tremendously as did household income and
economic self-sufficiency. New housing options
provided school children access to higher quality
schools. The study found that the most important
factor in improving the school performance of kids
who lived in housing assistance families is the
quality of the school they attend. While mixed-income
communities improved school quality as
part of their master plan, vouchers gave families
greater freedom in choosing where they lived: most
sought neighborhoods that were safer and had
better schools. The report conducted a benefit cost
analysis and found that society benefited greatly
from revitalization. On average, each revitalize
community generated $123 million in net benefits
to society and 13 new communities added $1.6
billion to the welfare of society. The analysis found
society received a $1.60 benefit for every dollar of
cost.
To view the full summary, click here.
Dr. Boston concludes:
Mixed income housing, housing choice vouchers
and project-based rental assistance greatly
improved the quality of life and the self-sufficiency
of AHA assisted families. Between 1995 and 2007,
the vast majority of families relocated to superior
neighborhoods, adult employment increased
tremendously as did household income and
economic self-sufficiency. New housing options
provided school children access to higher quality
schools. The study found that the most important
factor in improving the school performance of kids
who lived in housing assistance families is the
quality of the school they attend. While mixed-income
communities improved school quality as
part of their master plan, vouchers gave families
greater freedom in choosing where they lived: most
sought neighborhoods that were safer and had
better schools. The report conducted a benefit cost
analysis and found that society benefited greatly
from revitalization. On average, each revitalize
community generated $123 million in net benefits
to society and 13 new communities added $1.6
billion to the welfare of society. The analysis found
society received a $1.60 benefit for every dollar of
cost.
To view the full summary, click here.
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