Howard Husock catalogs the accomplishments of Renee Glover, the controversial leader of the Atlanta Housing Authority.
Glover's work in the realm of housing is so bold that it warrants the title "human transformation," according to Husock. Since 1994, she has reinvented Atlanta's 50,000-tenant public housing program, replacing city-owned properties with private developer complexes and instituting a work requirement for residents. At the heart of Glover's program is the Integral Youth and Family Project, manned by a corp of idealistic, young "family support coordinators" who wage on-the-ground interventions to help their tenant-clients make positive life changes, says Husock.
Though the program has met resistance from some tenants, the combined work requirement and counseling program seems to be making an impact, writes Hussock:
"The most recent figures show that 62 percent of AHA-supported household heads in Atlanta are employed. Before the recession, the figure had reached 70 percent. When Ms. Glover took over, it stood at 18.5 percent. This is what reducing black poverty actually looks like - turning the underclass into the working class."
FULL STORY: HUSOCK: Reinventing public housing
New Book Examines Public Housing as a Locus of Political Power
A new book, "Diverging Space for Deviants," connects public housing with political power.
The Winners and Losers of Atlanta’s Transformation
The city has reinvented itself in many ways, but its residents are not reaping those benefits equally.
The Uniquely Racial Dynamics of Gentrification in Atlanta
The Guardian published an in-depth exposé of the causes and effects of gentrification in the city of Atlanta.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
A Lone Voice for Climate: How The Wild Robot Stands Apart in Hollywood
Among this year’s Oscar-nominated films, only The Wild Robot passed the Climate Reality Check, a test measuring climate change representation in storytelling, highlighting the ongoing lack of climate awareness in mainstream Hollywood films.
Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research