Spotlight on:
Housing Authority of New Orleans
The Housing Authority of New Orleans oversees the City’s public housing. It was formed following the 1937 Federal Housing Act to address the City’s need for low-income affordable housing. This exhibit explores the history of HANO and the public housing developments in New Orleans through photographs, publications, annual reports, and administrative records of the agency held in the City Archives.
HANO Records
Click the image to the right to browse the inventory of HANO records in the City Archives. The collection includes administrative records relating to the operation of HANO such as meeting minutes, annual reports, financial records, studies, and newsletters. Records are available to registered researchers by appointment. Request an appointment through Ask an Archivist.
Researchers can search for additional records collections that contain information about HANO by searching our online finding aids.
Annual Reports, 1937-1990s
Annual reports of the Housing Authority of New Orleans are available to view digitally. These reports date back to the inception of HANO in 1937. Reports chronicle the actions of HANO, statistics and demographics of the housing developments, proposed projects, and include images of residential activity at various housing developments.
Researchers can search for additional HANO publications in the New Orleans Public Library’s catalog. Search for “Housing Authority of New Orleans.”
Photographs
The City Archives & Special Collections is happy to debut the Housing Authority of New Orleans Photograph Collection, with over 300 photographs spanning 1940-1970. Digitization of materials in this collection made possible by the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities and the LA Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism.
Click images to browse collection.
Housing Developments
In 1938, construction began on segregated affordable housing units. Known as “The Big Four,” Magnolia, Calliope, Lafitte, and St. Bernard housing developments were the first African American public housing units opened in New Orleans. They were opened between 1941 and 1942, offering approximately 3,000 apartments. The St. Thomas and Iberville housing developments were also opened in 1941 for white residents. According to a 1939 HANO report, the approximate cost of the original housing program comprised of these six housing developments, was $30,000,000.00.
Magnolia
Opens in January of 1941 with 732 available units.
Calliope
Opens in April of 1941 with 690 available units.
Lafitte
Opens in June of 1941 with 896 available units.
St. Bernard
Opens in early 1942 with 744 available units.
By the 1960s, HANO had opened several additional housing developments in the Ninth Ward, Central City, and Algiers neighborhoods. These include Florida, Fischer, Guste (Melpomene), and Desire. Frequent complaints about the conditions and failing infrastructure of public housing in New Orleans were prevalent throughout the 70s, 80s, and 90s. City Council unanimously voted to demolish the Big Four in 2007, following damage from Hurricane Katrina. Housing developments have since been redeveloped as mixed income housing communities. Visit HANO’s website for their current list of housing communities in New Orleans.
This post was created by Brittanny Silva in 2025.