Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1919-10-16
HOUSING PROBLEM
Alma is Facing Acute Shortage
Which Money Saving Will Aid.

One of the most serious problems
confronting Alma, as well as every
other prosperous community in the
state, is the dearth of homes. There
is an alarming shortage of houses in
which the common folk may live and
properly rear families. This is due
to several causes, not the least of
which is an indisposition on the part
of many families to apply themselves
to the task of saving for home. The
immediate cause of this lack of homes
is the fact that during the past year
or so home building has nearly ceased
while the demand was greatly IN
creased Well paid war work called
many families to the prosperous CEN
tiers from farm homes, many of which
altogether inadequate, were aband-
oned. Again, returning soldiers, tired
of barracks, tents and trenches,
turned with more seriousness than
before TO home making
No city can prosper without homes
for its workers. Alma must stand
still unless home building and home
owning is encouraged Renting Is
fast becoming a thing of the past. A
time lease is a rarely. One can de-
pend on rented houses only from day
to day and moving" is the common
plight of the renter. Conditions are
no better elsewhere. In Flint people
are living in barns, garages and tents.
Detroit conditions are nearly as bad.
Useless to leave Alma, the renter is
unwelcome wherever he goes.
This all calls loudly to the Ameri-
can family to procure at once per-
manent home. Make friends and live
happily among them. Home owner
ship is the only solution of the hous-
ing problem.
How can this be done in Alma
Home building takes money, lots of
it. Alma homes should have all mod
ern conveniences. This requires ar
outlay of at least $4,000 for each
home. Where will the cash come
from. Not Detroit, nor Flint, nor
Lansing-all these have their own
housing problems. The money must
come from Alma. From the moneyed
class did some one say? Alma has
none such. We have no idle rich.
Likewise we have no idle poor. All
are busy, all earning good incomes.
From these incomes we must build
our homes. We must save for homes.
We have an emergency equalled only
by that of the war. We saved for
l bonds Na cauaJ fo. Tho ssXf, ,,1 g..
the Red Cross. Now we must save
for homes. All must save. If not
for ourselves, then we must save for
others, so that all may enjoy the
blessings of home. We must be
mutually helpful in this matter or
home building and in so doing help
ourselves and others and the COM
munity.
The Savings q Loan Association
offers the best solution of this prob
lem in Alma as in every city. 1t is
noticeable that the housing problem
is less acute in those cities having
strong Savings d Loan associations.
Jackson, prosperous. has six associa-
tions with 100000 invested. No
housing problem. Grand Rapids has
I five associations with $4,000 900 in
vested, taking care Of her home
building. Flint has one association
with Sl50,000 invested and her people
living in tents. The accumulated saw
ings of the common folk Of these
cities, through these associations pro-
vide the means for building or buying
homes for their members on easy
payment plans. At the same time
savings in these associations have
first mortgage safety and draw inter
est equal to farm loans.
Our Alma association has all the
machinery for solving our housing
problem. Its 80 odd years Of success
full operation proves its worth for
many homes in Alma have been pro
cured through its good Offices. Many
Of Alma's prosperous citizens have
started their fortunes from savings
in this association. It's double purpose
should appeal strongly to our people
from the cummunity as we'll as in
dividual interest.