THE PUBLIC HOUSING DEBATE CONTENTS: Introduction Does Texas need public housing? Problems facing public housing The past: Beginnings of public housing Public Works Administration builds public housing Housing Act of 1937 Public housing in Texas Special interest, race and local control Solutions to fix public housing Postscript: Allen Parkway Village today For more information TxLIHIS' work in public housing copyright 1998 Texas Low Income Housing Information Service

The past: public housing in Texas Public housing residents protest demolitions In response to the demands of the real estate interests, the Lanham act required that at the end of the war this housing be sold off or demolished so it would not compete with .the private housing market. At the end of the war with the demolition of public housing looming,his resulted in outcries from the public housing residents in Texas, many of whom were war veterans. There was not enough housing available to house the returning veterans and the workers who stayed on in Texas cities following the end of World War II. Rallies and organized demands directed at city councils by housing residents who wanted to prevent the demolition of war housing ultimately proved futile as virtually all of this housing was demolished or sold to private investors. Temporary public housing for war workers in Dallas build during World War II. (photo: Dallas Public Library) Public housing leader speaks to residents about plans to demolish Dallas war worker public housing. (photo: Dallas Public Library) Following the end of the war, public housing residents organized to protest the demolition of their public housing units. (photo: Dallas Public Library) Public housing resident turn out in mass to protest housing demolitions before the Dallas City Council, late 1940's. (Photo: Dallas Public Library) Joseph McCarthy and Harry Truman battle over public housing