11/26/2022
Across North America, in 49 states in 480 cities, over 5 million people live in over 9000 federally assisted housing properties. They are at risk of getting poisoned by living on dangerous chemically infused land. Aproximately 70% of these sites are within one mile of Superfund sites. In the 1980s, the Superfund program was set forth to clean up the country's most polluted and toxic sites by using corporate body taxes to clean up and build affordable housing on the properties. In 1995, the law was suspended and the government now had the responsibility to clean up toxic waste sites however, as a result of limited budgets the government was unable to follow through in their commitments. (Holford, 2022)
The government's racially motivated policies allowed vulnerable populations especially people of color, children, older adults and people with disabilities to live on these poisonous contaminated sites. Unbeknownst to many residents they are being encouraged to move into these life threatening environments even though the government including U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is aware of the grave circumstances the government continues to invest in these treacherous environments. Families who are exposed to such chemicals are at continuous risk of diseases, sickness and health conditions especially lead poisoning, asthma, cancer. (Hood, 2005) These vulnerable populations are unequipped, unable and cannot afford to live anywhere else so they are trapped living in these precocious places. (Caputo, 2022)
Currently, a gargantuan 950 residential affordable housing project, Gowanus Green with a park, school and retail space was slated to be built until concerned citizens noted that the site is toxic. It’s estimated that it will conservatively cost $1.5 billion to clean up the site. The government can not afford and is not willing to pay the high price tag of a complete clean up which could take a decade.(Gowanus Green: Hudson Inc., 2022)
