[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 13 (Monday, January 28, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E79]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          HOPE VI IMPROVEMENT AND REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2007

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. YVETTE D. CLARKE

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 17, 2008

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 3524) to 
     reauthorize the HOPE VI program for revitalization of 
     severely distressed public housing, and for other purposes:

  Ms. CLARKE. Madam Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 3524, the 
``HOPE VI Improvement and Revitalization Act of 2007,'' which 
eradicates severely distressed public housing.
  Ever since public housing was first created, there were many 
obstacles that hindered its success. As time progressed, many public 
housing units became nothing more than a highly concentrated community 
containing many of society's social problems such as poverty, high 
crime, and unemployment. Consequently, many units became deplorable and 
uninhabitable. But H.R. 3524 would help transform many severely 
distressed neighborhoods into the livable communities that public 
housing was originally intended to be for many low-income families.
  The HOPE VI program was created in 1992 and has been credited with 
eliminating and replacing some of the most dangerous and distressed 
public housing in the country with new mixed income communities. It has 
been reported that mixed-income communities have resulted in increases 
in per capita incomes, decreases in unemployment rates, decreases in 
the number of households receiving public assistance, and declines in 
violent crime.
  Therefore, one of the reasons why I support H.R. 3524 is because this 
bill would require public housing agencies to create more mixed-income 
housing on demolished low-income housing sites. Also, these mixed-
income housing units developed to replace demolished public housing 
would have to be built in low-concentrated poverty areas to avoid 
concentrating public housing in low-income neighborhoods.
  Other reasons why I support this bill is because it provides more 
replacement housing units; ensures residents have access to revitalized 
sites; provides residents with more involvement in the planning and 
redevelopment process; and establishes green development standards for 
HOPE VI revitalization activities.
  Therefore, Madam Chairman, I urge my colleagues for strong bipartisan 
support of the HOPE VI Improvement and Revitalization Act of 2007, 
which will redefine public housing by transforming distressed 
communities into new, safe sustainable communities for many families 
who deserve it.

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