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 Texas Legislature authorizes public housing Before cities could set up local public housing authorities to apply to receive funding to build public housing, state legislatures needed to provide for the establishment of local public housing authorities. Texas' New Deal Governor, James Allred, pushed the public housing bill through the Texas state legislature. The Legislature passed the enabling legislation allowing Texas cities to set up public housing agencies with the local mayor appointing the five board members or public housing 'commissioners'. The statute permitting local cities and counties to establish public housing authorities was the state of Texas' only contribution to public housing. This was not a mandate that local cities embrace the program. Public housing still had to be approved on a community by community basis. Never in the sixty year history of public housing in Texas has the state of Texas allocated any funds to support or construct public housing. Since it's inception, public housing has been exclusively a federally funded program in Texas. Texas Legislature meeting in the State Capitol Building in Austin. (photo: Institute of Texan Cultures) James V. Allred, Texas' popular New Deal Governor, signed legislation allowing public housing to be developed in Texas. (photo: Institute of Texan Cultures) Austin and Lyndon Johnson begin public housing