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Taking advantage of disaster: misrepresentation of housing shortage for political gain

Taking advantage of disaster: misrepresentation of housing shortage for political gain Purpose – The purpose of this paper aims to explore the reports of housing shortages in post‐Katrina New Orleans especially for low‐income residents in the face of a returning working poor population. Despite the availability of housing vouchers by the New Orleans Housing Authority to any previous residents of New Orleans housing projects, a political uproar has claimed no homes are available and that destroying the previously failing New Orleans housing projects would amount to “forced homelessness.” Design/methodology/approach – The analysis is done by reflecting on different commentary from persons claiming the housing projects must be preserved while also exploring the failed goals of the same public institutions. Further, a brief overview of the housing situation regarding availability of homes is conducted. Findings – The findings show that the poor of New Orleans are being misled about available housing, and there is a continuing process of decline in sovereignty of local public policy makers. Politicians benefit by elevating their public persona. Originality/value – The paper explores the political benefactors of perpetuating falsehoods in order to make political gains. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png International Journal of Social Economics Emerald Publishing

Taking advantage of disaster: misrepresentation of housing shortage for political gain

Vedran Vuk
International Journal of Social Economics , Volume 35 (8): 12 – Jul 4, 2008
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References (9)

Publisher
Emerald Publishing
Copyright
Copyright © 2008 Emerald Group Publishing Limited. All rights reserved.
ISSN
0306-8293
DOI
10.1108/03068290810889224
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper aims to explore the reports of housing shortages in post‐Katrina New Orleans especially for low‐income residents in the face of a returning working poor population. Despite the availability of housing vouchers by the New Orleans Housing Authority to any previous residents of New Orleans housing projects, a political uproar has claimed no homes are available and that destroying the previously failing New Orleans housing projects would amount to “forced homelessness.” Design/methodology/approach – The analysis is done by reflecting on different commentary from persons claiming the housing projects must be preserved while also exploring the failed goals of the same public institutions. Further, a brief overview of the housing situation regarding availability of homes is conducted. Findings – The findings show that the poor of New Orleans are being misled about available housing, and there is a continuing process of decline in sovereignty of local public policy makers. Politicians benefit by elevating their public persona. Originality/value – The paper explores the political benefactors of perpetuating falsehoods in order to make political gains.

Journal

International Journal of Social Economics – Emerald Publishing

Published: Jul 4, 2008

Keywords: Housing; United States of America; Floods; Disasters; Financing

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