It would allow the demolition of the most decrepit public housing while freeing money designated for renovation to build new apartments.

Hundreds of children in Passaic live with extended families in crowded, decrepit housing, a factor that Mr. Holster said hurts their academic performance.

Many of the new construction stands right next to decrepit housing or slums.

Behind his shop, several blocks of decrepit housing had been razed and the residents moved to a new housing project.

Scour the Federal budget and you will not find an urban policy that comes close to addressing the decrepit housing and economic deprivation of city ghettos.

But look closely and you find signs of deterioration: debris, overgrown weeds, decrepit housing.

The stress of not having money, of living in decrepit housing, of sending children to poorly funded schools would take its toll on even the most committed relationship.

The decrepit housing and mechanical parts also needed extensive overhaul, as did the original Wurlitzer organ.

The real expansion came in the middle of the 20th century, when council housing replaced decrepit housing in the old town.

Mr. Brown and others said it was not uncommon here these days to find children fending for themselves in decrepit housing, with only occasional visits from relatives.