Exposing How Publicly Subsidized Housing in Texas Encourages Segregation

Texas has come under scrutiny for a pattern of developing low-income housing projects in areas already suffering from poverty and blight. Karisa King describes how the NIMBY mentality is reinforced by the subsidization system.

2 minute read

April 24, 2012, 6:00 AM PDT

By jerinbrent


A recent analysis by the Texas Tribune and The San Antonio Express News has found that subsized apartment developments have been disproportionately built in non-white areas throughout Texas. Low income housing tax credit programs are designed to break up concentrations of poverty and facilitate affordable housing in safe neighborhoods with access to jobs, good schools and transportation.

Plans to build low-income complexes in affluent neighborhoods are rarely met with open arms by existing residents. A recent proposal to build a 68-unit apartment building for low-income seniors near the fashionable neighborhood of Stone Oak was shut down after three short months of citizen outcry. President of the Mount Arrowhead Homeowners Association, Francisco Martinez, described their opposition this way:

"These are single-family homes. Anything that takes away from that takes away from why we bought into it."

It's not that developers don't understand the mission of the tax credit programs. Competition for subsidies is tight, though, and approval is based on a point system. "Community Support" is the second highest point-getter when projects are scored. Jennifer Gonzales, executive director of the Alamo Area Mutual Housing Association admits:

"Usually your more organized neighborhoods and communities are ones that have more resources, and those are the ones that are going to get organized more quickly if they don't want you there. We just don't even go there."

Thanks to Jessica Brent

Monday, April 23, 2012 in Texas Tribune

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 2, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

White and purple sign for Slow Street in San Francisco, California with people crossing crosswalk.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths

Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

July 1, 2025 - KQED

Google street view of red brick multi-story power plant building in Pittsburgh, PA.

Defunct Pittsburgh Power Plant to Become Residential Tower

A decommissioned steam heat plant will be redeveloped into almost 100 affordable housing units.

July 4 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Cyclist on protected bike lane in middle of street in Washington D.C. with Washington Monument obelisk visible in background.

Trump Prompts Restructuring of Transportation Research Board in “Unprecedented Overreach”

The TRB has eliminated more than half of its committees including those focused on climate, equity, and cities.

July 4 - Streetsblog USA

Blue and silver Amtrak train at small station.

Amtrak Rolls Out New Orleans to Alabama “Mardi Gras” Train

The new service will operate morning and evening departures between Mobile and New Orleans.

July 3 - New Orleans City Business