Crime and disorder have been prevalent in public housing developments since the 1960s. Various attempts, ranging from physical design modifications to intensive law enforcement strategies, have been made to combat these problems. The Chicago Housing Authority's Public Housing Drug Elimination Program (PHDEP), an extensive anticrime initiative, involves sweeping buildings for drugs and weapons, improving security, removing unauthorized tenants, responding to residents' needs for services and maintenance, and implementing drug prevention and intervention programs. This study surveyed respondents' perceptions of PHDEP's effects on drugs and crime in two housing developments chosen for their preexisting differences in crime rates and population stability. Overall, respondents in the better organized development reported more favorable perceptions of PHDEP's impact. We discuss the implications of these findings for research and public policy.
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