The government can't do it. Crime and family disintegration became rampant. The buildings themselves had to be torn down after just decades of use, or completely gut-rehabbed. Compare this situation with most of the older woodframe housing built 50 to 150 years ago. It is still in good shape and livable without anything more than routine repair and judicious installation of improvements like electricity and indoor plumbing.
Historic preservationists love it.
Well maintained, it can last another century or two. There isn't a prayer of a chance that this housing will work. Consequently, a huge tax-funded benefit goes inequitably to a small portion of those citizens officially qualified to receive it. Another government housing disaster is in the works. We are still a nation of immigrants.