New Chicago facility will tell story of public housing in United States

CHICAGO - A new museum in Chicago will be the first to tell the story of public housing.

The museum has been in the planning and development stages for 15 years, and organizers finally broke ground on Tuesday.

The museum will open on the site of the former CHA Jane Addams Homes, part of the ABLA Homes, which have been vacant since 2002.

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A Chicago leader who grew up in public housing spoke about the museum's mission.

"Where millions of people are without homes in America, that the notion that we tried public housing and it failed is a myth. We need to know why. Why it worked in time and place and why it didn't and when it didn't. We need to confront the racism that allows fair and affordable housing to fall into disrepair," said Sunny Fischer, Executive Director of The Richard Driehaus Foundation.

Funding for the museum is coming from several foundations, as well as the city of Chicago and state of Illinois. It will be open to the public next year.