PRUITT-IGOE HOUSING PROJECT, ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI (1956–1976)

Pruitt-Igoe was a public housing complex of 33 11-story buildings built after WWII. It began as a decent place to live + was dominated by poor Black Americans. Overcome by serious crime (murder, rape, drugs + squatting) + serious maintenance issues, it was eventually demolished.

The government predominantly targeted Black mothers for occupancy IF and ONLY IF there was no adult male living in the household. Black women chose to pose as single so that they could move into the new development with their kids ultimately destroying the Black family structure.

Residents complained of serious maintenance issues such as no heat, broken toilets, water + sewage flooding and rodent infestations that went ignored + never fixed. Residents also complained that crime skyrocketed because police were negligent in their response to calls for help.

ST. LOUIS RENT STRIKE OF 1969

In 1969, due to their harsh living conditions, public housing tenants launched a rent strike that shaped federal legislation and helped make housing a central concern of the Black Freedom Struggle.

Between 1965 and 1967, rent increases for public housing ranged from 16% to 32%. Projects were built with federal dollars, then left to be maintained by local rents. Tenants had one simple demand, “Lower the rent and treat us as human beings!” That demand was met with demolition.