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The past: special interests, race and local control |
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Houston's public housing fight of the 1940's-50's |
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Dr. Stephen Fox
professor
Rice University, Houston
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CLICK PICTURE FOR MOVIE
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Learn how to see VIVO movies
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During World War II - New Deal era public housing programs had lapsed and it was during the Truman Administration in 1949 that new legislation was passed creating the United States Public Housing Authority. Beginning another cycle of public housing production in the United States during the 1950's and early 1960's.
Houston had kind found itself in the midst of a political revolt in the late 40's and early 1950's. A very extreme right wing group protested government policy.
In the early 1950's, the Housing Authority of the City of Houston, under its long term Executive Director, Erwin Blum, he had become executive director in 1942, began planning to build a fifth public housing complex. The United States Public Housing Authority required that the property purchase be locally funded and then the United States Public Housing Authority would fund the construction of buildings. The housing authority as a public authority had the power to issue bonds, there was a referendum at which voters turned down the housing authority's attempt to gain permission to sell bonds to acquire the property.
Susan Vahn Clayton, the wife of Will Clayton, co-founder of Anderson Clayton the big cotton exporting firm..., Mrs. Clayton bought the property that the housing authority had wanted to acquire which was in 5th Ward, it was again considered to be a very notorious slum called Schrimpf Alley and presented this property to the housing authority to build what became Clayton Homes completed in 1952.
Shortly after its completion however Erwin Blum became involved in a sort of minor scandal but as it began to unravel. It seemed that he had taken kick-backs for the award of contracts with the construction of Clayton Homes... and in 1953 Blum was tried and convicted for embezzlement, he was eventually sent to prison. The entire board of commissioners was forced to resign, none of them were prosecuted, but they were reprimanded for their complete lack of oversight of the administration of the Housing Authority of the City of Houston. |
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Clayton Homes public housing development in Houston, focus of local controversy. (photo: Houston Public Library) |
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Houston Housing Authority Board of Commissioners reviewing plans for Clayton Homes. (photo: Houston Public Library) |
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Susan Vahn Clayton, socialite and benefactor of public housing in Houston. (photo: Houston Public Library) |
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Schrimpf Alley, the section of Houston which was demolished as a site on which Clayton Homes was built. (photo: Houston Public Library) |
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Erwin Blumm, Houston's long time and controversial public housing director. (photo: Houston Public Library) |
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THE PUBLIC HOUSING DEBATE