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Is Private Investment In Public Housing Good For Baltimore?

A group of friends sit in front of Bel Park Towers in Park Heights. Many of the folks in this picture spent a lot of time telling me about their concerns and the conditions of their building. (Jonna McKone/ WYPR)
A group of friends sit in front of Bel Park Towers in Park Heights. Many of the folks in this picture spent a lot of time telling me about their concerns and the conditions of their building. (Jonna McKone/ WYPR)

A new program that allows allows real estate companies to buy a share of public housing buildings is causing controversy in Baltimore.

Some say the Rental Assistance Demonstration program frees up needed funding for affordable housing programs, but others worry that the program shows a cutback on government commitment to public housing and leans too heavily on the private sector.

From the Here & Now Contributors Network, Jonna McKone of WYPR in Baltimore explains the story of public housing’s future and past.

Reporter

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