Commentary: Considerations for Improving the Quality of Life for Voucher Recipients

Mark A. Stallo
Dallas Police Department

The six articles included in this Cityscape symposium address a wide range of issues related to public housing and crime. These articles present very interesting and important issues that need to be considered when developing a public policy toward the safety of all neighborhood residents, including public housing tenants. This commentary addresses some of the insights gained from my 34 years of law enforcement experience and a great deal of study related to various types of public housing. The findings from each article lend a new perspective toward possibly improving the quality of life for public housing and voucher recipients. The authors cover issues such as criminal records, mental health, neighborhood integration, and education. They remind the reader that no quick fix exists with regard to integrating government housing populations into the various neighborhoods that have developed throughout the United States. I highlight important passages from each article to emphasize the most salient points about public housing issues related to crime, and, when relevant, I provide examples from my experience with the Dallas Police Department (DPD).