Government housing really caught our attention because neither of us are very familiar with this topic, and we only have a basic understanding. We knew that there was probably some way we could use our resources to help those in low income housing. There are many misconceptions and stereotypes for those who live in government housing. We hope to tackle some of these misconceptions and allow people to see the benefits if these housing units. Those who live in government housing each have a different background and reason for living there. Government housing provides many families and communities with support that they need.
Brief History
The Santa Rita housing units were built in 1939
Now consists of 97 housing units
In 1937 President Roosevelt signed the United States Housing Act of 1937
The United States Housing Authority was created after the signing of this act
$500 million for subsidies was giving to public housing agencies on behalf of the U.S. government
This money allowed agencies to start building housing units for low income families which provided them with resources they didn't have
Subsidies are money granted from the government
"Santa Rita Courts in the Holly Neighborhood of East Austin is the first federal housing project completed under the 1937 Housing Act and was constructed specifically for Mexican-American families. (The Living New deal)"
The Rosewood Court and the Chalmers Court were also build soon after
The Rosewood Court was built for African-American families and The Chalmers Court were for white families
If it weren't for the Civil Rights Act of 1968 it is likely that these courts could still be segregated today
Our goal is to create a safe space for women specifically, and families in government housing. We want residents to be able to have easy access to other resources and help that is needed by low income families. Items like feminine products, toys, and clothing are resource that can be very expensive, especially for low income families. We are also aiming to create a safe space for emotional support, we want this to be beneficial to residents and the surrounding communities. In the end, we hope to have a women's conference that will allow women to mingle and create friendships and connections with women in other housing units.