A Savannah mother’s search for her daughter in a dilapidated public housing complex reveals systemic failures that continue to endanger residents.
Fred Clasen-Kelly and Renuka Rayasam report for KFF Health News.
In short:
- Yamacraw Village, one of the nation’s oldest public housing projects, faces severe neglect, including mold, rodents and violence, with many apartments abandoned.
- Federal funding for essential repairs was cut, leaving residents in dangerous conditions, while redevelopment plans threaten to displace them.
- Structural racism and decades of disinvestment have compounded health risks and violence, especially in Black communities.
Key quote:
“This is about white privilege. The result is driven by racist policymaking.”
— Jonathan Jay, assistant professor of community health sciences at Boston University
Why this matters:
Neglected public housing like Yamacraw reflects broader systemic issues, where underinvestment and discrimination fuel unsafe living conditions and worsen racial disparities in health and safety.
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