Houston Built Affordable Housing Next to Toxic Waste Dumps Houston affordable housing controversy

Added: 2026-06-10

[00:00:00]Would you raise your kids next to a toxic waste dump? Houston just did. 400 affordable housing units in the Second Ward, right next to toxic ash dumps and a former Superfund site. Mayor Whitmire says it's safe. The Houston Housing Authority installed fencing and security to keep kids away from the contaminated properties next door. Read that again.

[00:00:21]They have to keep children away from contaminated properties next door to where families will live. This is the same city that can't pick up trash for over a year. Same city with a massive budget deficit, but they found money to build low-income housing surrounded by toxic waste. Critics call it environmental racism. Defenders say it's better than no housing at all. Families who need affordable housing are choosing between homelessness and living next to poison.

[00:00:47]Here's my question. Would they build this in River Oaks? Would they build this in the Heights? Drop yes or no in the comments.

[00:00:54]Is this about helping people or hiding them?

[00:00:57]Follow for more Houston stories they hope you won't notice.