[The developer of the East Lake Golf and Housing project in Atlanta explains why for-profit developers would be interested in repeating the "golf and public housing" model in cities like New Orleans... and how to encourage them to do so. Cousins, himself a golfer, had family ties to the East Lake Golf Club and bought the once-hallowed course in 1993 after its membership dwindled and its aging facilities fell into disrepair. The businessman spent more than $24 million buying and restoring the golf course and its old clubhouse, and then, in 1995, launched the East Lake Foundation to assemble money, plans and government help for the redeveloping the adjoining public housing complex.]

My intent today is to offer thoughts and suggestions on how to improve HUD's program of mixed-income housing. I hope the Commission will remember this testimony for three simple points. First, mixed-income housing works. It is certainly the best method I know of to transform devastated housing "projects" into truly safe and healthy "neighborhoods". Second, for the program to work on a large scale, it must be simplified and made more profitable for the private, for-profit developers that are essential to the program's success. And third, HUD must provide funding for effective social services that we believe are an essential part of every mixed-income development.