CHA Donates Space for National Public Housing Museum

CHA Donates Space for National Public Housing Museum

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The Chicago Housing Authority has agreed to donate the historic Jane Addams Homes for a planned public housing museum.

The National Public Housing Museum would be the first of its kind in the country. The CHA board today voted to give the museum space in the West Loop. Zenobia Johnson-Black is on the museum’s board of directors.

JOHNSON-BLACK: The story of public housing nationally is a story that’s part of the American history. We don’t want to forget the kinds of families that grew out of the struggles and the challenges that people faced in public housing throughout the years.

Exhibits will include public housing artifacts and apartment recreations. Planners are hoping that the museum will provide a forum for people to discuss housing, poverty, race and immigration. The museum must raise $13 million by 2011 to keep the donated site.

I’m Natalie Moore, Chicago Public Radio.