Political and social incorporation of public housing residents: challenges in HOPE VI community development

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to examine the implementation process of Housing Opportunities for People Everywhere (HOPE) VI for two developments in the Southwest and to explore its impact on the rights of dispersed residents. Drawing on the concept, “right to the city,” this paper describes the participation of residents and their right to appropriate space and the role of Community and Supportive Services (CSS) in facilitating those rights. As a measure of residents’ right to participation, this paper examines whether the residents played a significant role during the redevelopment phases. Next, it looks at the residents’ potential for place making. This paper concludes that the residents’’ right to participation and place making were not inherent in HOPE VI implementation, but that CSS could enhance both rights in future programs.

Keywords:

• HOPE VI
• participation
• community development