Public housing was created under Franklin Roosevelt in response to effects of the Great Depression. (See Government Housing History) However, a municipality, not the federal government, acts as the landlord. Local government builds, owns and (sometimes) maintains the property with various grants from HUD. Tenants pay 30% of their income for rent.

      Approximately four million households reside in HUD-assisted rental units in the 50 states and Washington, DC, representing 12 percent of total renters and 26 percent of income eligible renters. Of the total assisted households, approximately 1.1 million live in public housing units. Another 1.2 million receive assistance through housing vouchers or Section 8 certificates, and 1.7 million live in private, project-based units under various other HUD subsidy programs.

      Public housing has been a massive failure ( See Franklin's Monster Destroyed ) in large part because of an inability to refuse to rent to undesirable tenants and the difficulty in evicting them. Additionally, where owners and managers do not have a profit incentive, the results are always predictable. In 1995 Detroit Public Housing had only a 40% occupancy, despite the fact that was the lowest price housing alternative for most low-income tenants.

Grievance Procedure for Public Housing Tenants

      Tenants in Public Housing have the right to a hearing before a problem with their housing reaches the court stage. The grievance panel usually consists of one tenant member from a list of "tenant leaders", one Housing Commissioner and one other person depending on the situation. The grievance panel recommends to the Housing Commission possible resolution to the problem. The best time to file for a grievance hearing is as soon as a tenant gets a notice to quit. A tenant may also be able to a void a court case or at least have more time in an eviction situation. Tenants can call Legal Services for assistance in preparing for the hearing.

Public Housing Tenant Associations

      Many Public Housing Commissions recognize and negotiate with tenant organizations that represent the majority of tenants at each public housing site. There are guidelines on how to get organization recognition, elect officers, create by-laws, and negotiate agreements with the Housing Commission. The Housing Commission is also expected to provide some resources to tenants organizations.