The Omaha guide., 1938-05-07

5 Billion Dollar Campaign
to RehOuse the Poor

Washington, d.. C.. May 7-Dr. Robert c.
Weaver, Special Assistant to Administrator
Nathan Straus Of the United States Housing
Authority, today Saturday, May y outlined
the USHA's natniowide slum clearance and low
rerf. housing, at the dedication of new build
inps at the State School, Marshall, Missouri.
Dr.. Weaver urged those present ii stimulate
local effort toward securing for the State of
Missouri enabling acts permitting it to partici
pate in the countrywide $500, 000, 600 gam
paign to rehouse the poor Of the slums in new
homes at rents within the reach Of the lowest
come groups.
To-day, in the United States on a national
scale. we are executing a new program for so
cial betterment. Here, again, the Government
is taking the lead since it has become mani
fest that the problem is so large and so vital
thai Geve1po emit alene is equipped to meet it,
I refer to the rehousing of low-income fami-
lies said DR.. Weaver.
eAri'a fscm the reed for. decent low-rent
boz 'rs' ere-r colerod c'tizers. which is so
ev ent ii - sections, Government housing
hos "a further signi icate for Negroes. The
whole theory behind public housing is that the
irdividnfl is effected greatly by his environ
ment. Not only does the person develop more
fully Il lie is gwen better surroundings, but
society benefits greatly because a better eiti
zei, is produced"
If communities can be brought to realize
this about housing, it is conceivable that the
same analysis can be extended throughout the
area. For the reasoning which declares that
no ca rbe done for the slum-dweller be-
cause he has reached his natural level, dictates
that Negroes are poor, ignorant. and UNDER
privileged because they are naturally inferior.
"To stress eneironmental factors is to open
pun- .Iaare #4f opa,rt,.F.tfsr and h,4a =. a.Io.aJ
American. Indirectly, a successful housing pro-
gram viii do this. Directly, it must benefit
thousands Of Negro families.
4under the United States Housing Author
ity. the first move must be made by cities
where public spirit demands eradication Of
slum areas. The Authority in Washington pro-
vides advice, technical assistance, and finally
funds, after the requirements set forth in the
law have been met by the applicants for a
loan.
THE degree to which Negroes will benefit
from the program of the USHA will depend,
IN large measure, upon their participation in
and consideration by local housing authorities.
If we may Judge the futrue by the past. we
can look forward to a housing p rogram in
Missouri which will include much Negro parti-
%eipation. At the present time the State Of Mis-
souri, Is not qualified under the terms of the
United States Housing Act of 1887 to ask for
loans.
If the splendid record you have achieved in
regard to securing benefits for Negros from
public funds is to be continued in the field of
housing, there are several necessary steps.
First, enabling Legislation must be establish
ed; and finally, projects designed to relieve
the housing situation of Negores must be pre-
pared and presented to the USHA.
In other sections, North and South alike.
these steps have been taken. In 33 States of
the Union legislation for the establishment of
local .housing authorities has been passed. In
more than 100 cities such authorities now exist.
and in several Important places Negroes have
been named to these authorit es. This has been
true in Baltimore, Philadelphia, Pittsburg.
Toledo, Charleston West Virginia; Spring
field Illinois; and in four New Jersey cities:
Newark, Trenton, Camden and Orange. In the
State of Indiana the vice-presidemt of the
State Housing Authority is a Negro"