The Other Side of Hope: Squandering Social Capital in Louisville’s HOPE VI

Abstract

This qualitative study followed 40 households displaced in Louisville’s HOPE VI redevelopment of Clarksdale public housing. The authors argue that though the goals to alleviate distressed housing and deconcentrate poverty were laudable, Louisville’s housing authority gave insufficient consideration to the effects of policy on poor people in their communities. The processes and results in Louisville disrupted communities, perpetuated disempowerment, and favored deconcentration of poverty over poverty reduction. Through the lens of a preferential option for the poor, the authors argue that HOPE VI would be more likely to achieve its stated goals if built upon existing foundations of social capital.

KEYWORDS:

• housing
• social justice
• HOPE VI
• social capital

Notes

1. These goals come from The Quality Housing and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1998 which authorized and codified HOPE VI. P.L. 105-276, Tit.V. 535a (Oct.21, 1998) at 42 U.S.C. § 1437v(a).

2. The Housing Authority of Louisville (HAL) became LMHA after the city/county merger of 2002.

3. Our commitment to persons in poverty values individual narratives whether or not they are statistically representative.

4. From the city’s perspective, building schedules and HUD deadlines prevented LMHA from keeping parts of the MOU (T. Barry, personal communication, June 24, 2008).

5. In another renewal project, Sheppard Square has since been demolished. All residents relocated to Sheppard Square have been moved again.