It doesn't make sense to criticize HOPE VI as a failure and then cite the Atlanta Housing Authority's efforts as a model - their new developments are funded substantially by HOPE VI (with a great deal of other federal dollars as well from the Capital Fund and Replacement Housing Fund programs).

Also, the work requirements Atlanta has imposed on residents of the new developments are a HOPE VI requirement (although Atlanta has imposed somewhat tougher requirements than most other HOPE VI awardees). In addition, the "evidence" of the increase in crime in Memphis due to HOPE VI comes from the widely discussed Atlantic article and was extremely weak and sorely lacking in actual data.