The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-09-14
Undesirable Sections to Be Eliminated !; Four Million
 Dollars Needed

ment of Interior and It author. izes loans to local public housing agencies to finance low rent hous- ing projects. It stipulates all homes built are strictly confined to lowest income families which are not being adequately housed by private buildings and whose income is less than five times the rent including utilities or six times for families of three or more chil- dren. It offers local housing au- thoritieS the choice between bor- rowing the entire cost of Q houS- ing project at Q rate of Ia to percent of the cost of the money to the government or 90 percent Of the cost of the project, plus annual subsidy for the purpose of reducing rents. The cost of such dwellings are limited to $i,000 per room, or 5000 per unit for cities tho size of Waterbury. This is exclusive of the cost of the land.
 The last General Assembly in Connecticut passed Q bill, known as Senate Bill No. Il, authorizing the creation of @ Housing Author ity in any municipality in this state. This act provides that if the governing body in any munic- ipality, which in our case is the Board of Aldermen, find there Is Q shortage of dwellings to accom- modate families of low income at rentals they can afford, they shall adopt Q resolution declaring that such Q condition exists and shall notify the Mayor of such an adop- ton. Upon receipt of such notice the Mayor shall appoint five per- sons aS Commissioners of the Authority who shall be designated to serve one, two, three, four and five years respectively. The Mayor appoints one of the corn- missioners as chairman of the Authority and the commission eE11- ployS technical experts as needed. The five commissioners of the Housing Authority serve without pay. They can serve In no nlu- niclpal office, neither can they have any interest, direct or indi- rect, in any property included or planned in any housing project or in any contract or proposed contract for materials or services.
 The Housing Authority Is a pub- lie body corporate, having all the powers necessary to carry out the provisions of the act. It Is iill- possible to enumerate these in the short time at my disposal, but the right to acquire property by the exercise of the power of the eminent domain; the authority to demolish slur1S, to acquire, lease and operate housing projects and to provide for the construction, reconstruction, improvement, alter ation or repair of any housing project; the power to issue bonds and provisions for the form and sale of bonds are all fully covered in the Housing Authority Act.
 Because there Is a shortage Of houses for families with incomes under 1000 per year and In order that Waterbury may take ad- vantage Of the assistance which iS offered by the Federal 0overn- ment under the Wagner-Steagall Act. am asking the Board Of Aldermen to adopt resolution to the effect that there is @ shortage of dwelling accommodations for families of low income at rentals that they can afford and that 1t Is the opinion of the Board Of Aldermen that the Mayor should take steps to meet this situation by appointing Housing Author ity under the powers given to him in Senate Bill No. ii passed by tho last General Assembly known aS an act for the creation of Q Housing Authority.
 Very sincerely,
 Lincoln House Association.
 William M. Harris,
 Executive Secretary.