The initial impact of abandonment in urban areas has been a major issue that has remained unresolved for decades. Housing abandonment deteriorates the health of communities, as they have become havens for crime and a significant expense for municipalities. Why are there so many abandoned housing? Can’t city government, nonprofits, and for profit entities utilize policies that will put an end to a safety and aesthetical hazard while also making use of those buildings? I will frame the discussion around racially motivated federal policies created in the 1940’s that form the foundation upon which abandoned housing in Newark was built, as well as the current policies the city has pursued in an effort to address abandonment.
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