In fact, the number of units receiving tax credit allocations fell from a high of 117,099 in 1994 to just 67,822 in 1998. Another million or so households are on waiting lists. By comparison, just over 20 percent of all rental units are located in such areas. By the end of 1999, over 27,600 units had been torn down. Despite HUD's replacement goal of 45 percent, only 7,273 units have been built or rehabbed thus far.
Major reforms are now in place to help stem the deterioration of public housing.
Beginning in 1999, the requirement that public housing take only the poorest households was eliminated in an effort to promote a wider mix of incomes. In addition, several initiatives to improve drug enforcement and to fund prevention, treatment and youth programs are taking aim at violent crime. These steps should help to protect more public housing units against the risk of loss.