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
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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.
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