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: special interests, race and local control Public housing: a tool for racial segregation In 1950 the racial housing issue literally exploded on Dallas in a series of bombings of the homes of African American families who had moved into a previously all white neighborhoods of South Dallas. A lack of decent housing, a desire for a better neighborhood, and a growing population caused African American families to seek housing in all white neighborhoods. South Dallas home bought by African American family in formally all white neighborhood after being bombed. (photo: Dallas Public Library) The Dallas City Council scrambled to find a solution to keep a lid on this explosive problem. As in other Texas cities, Dallas city officials ultimately turned to public housing as a way to maintain racial housing segregation as well as expand segregated housing to new areas of the city. City fathers sought to relieve the pressure on white neighborhoods by building large public housing developments set aside for African Americans. These public housing developments would serve as magnets to draw African American families to new segregated neighborhoods being developed around the new public housing developments. The largest of these efforts were the large West Dallas public housing projects. Dallas mayor and housing authority officials cut the ribbon on a new segregated public housing development for African Americans in South Dallas in the 1950's. (photo: Dallas Public Library) Public housing: a monument to segregation