Gettin' Out of the Projects: An Examination of the Relocation Experiences of Adolescents Formerly Residing in the Robert Taylor Homes

This study brings to light the specific experiences of adolescents who formerly resided in the Robert Taylor Homes, but relocated during the time period in which it was demolished. Due to the deplorable and dangerous conditions in the Taylor Homes, the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) decided to eliminate this high-rise community through its Plan for Transformation while also under the auspices of the HOPE VI initiative. This study examines the ways in which the participants personal, educational, and social situations within their new communities were influenced by their former circumstances. Through the use of focus groups, participant and naturalistic observation, in-depth interviews, and the use of photos I will capture the relocation experiences of each participant. I will also reveal how each participant s relocation experience is tied to their former situation within Chicago s public housing and the public schools that served its low-income residents. By disclosing the ways in which these youth adjusted personally, academically, and socially to life in Central Illinois, I hope to shed light on their distinct challenges and ongoing needs after relocating and ultimately how they are inextricably tied to the conditions of their past. Hosts of former CHA residents have relocated outside the Chicago metropolitan area and have faced considerable challenges transitioning into their new communities and schools. If this population is to indeed take full advantage of the resources within Central Illinois and other relocated communities, the service providers, educators, and residents therein must be enlightened on the particulars of their former situations.