The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1940-01-13
CITY HEADS
ADDRESS MEET
ON HOUSING
Senator Diggs Presides
AS City Wide Group
Holds First Confab

The spotlight turned last SstUr,
day noon upon housing conditions in
the boulevard district as the City
wide Co-ordinating committee or
Housing under the Craftsmanship OF
State Senator Charles C. Digs mel
in conference session in the dining
room OF the Lucy Thurman Y.W.C.A
City and State Officials
Give Views On Problem
Pertinent among statements made
by many city and state officials was
the allegation by Raymond H. Fo-
ley, state director Of the Federal
Housing Administration that Ne
Eroes buy homes in districts in
which Henry Ford, il he were to
apply for loan on property pur-
chased therein, would be refused
Foley asserted that he was cog
nlzant OF The attacks which had
been made upon his office charg-
ing discrimination. To this allega-
ton Foley stated, Il personally will
not feel that my job has been done
until more homes are owned by
Negroes For The past SIX months
] have done all that | could 10 en-
courage loan institutions to accept
Negro bids with a reasonable de-
gree Of success resultant"
In answer to a question put by
Rev. Horace A White relative 10
the refusal OF the FILA office to
grant insurance OF loans 10 persons
Of color purchasing property in
white districts, Mr.. Foley replied
that lit was a historic truth that
property values in mixed neigh
borhoods declined and that whites
and Negroes did not desire to live
together" Asked for a reason for
this fact. the administrator answer
implied that there was no specific
explanation but insisted that it had
been proven that inasmuch as Ne
groes and whites did not live har-
moniously together when a Negro
buys property in a white district
the whites invariably moved away
and the property became market
able TO people who we're least like
ly 10 purchase It. On the basis OF
this truth, Foley stated that such
an investment would be indicative
OF poor business tactics. In an ex-
PLANTATION preceding the discussion
Of the problem OF discrimination
the speaker stated that he was not
jIstifying the existence OF discrim-
nation and prejudice. but merely
being realistic
Rev. Horace White insisted de-
spite explanations that the admin
istration through the adoption OF
such an attitude was condoning dis
elimination
Cites Need For Cheaper
Building Projects
The need for better houses at
cheaper prices was cited by Foley
as a primary need in our present
set up Referring 10 the recent FLA
small housing plans which provides
for the insuring Of loans for the
construction Of a $4,000 home, the
speaker pointed to this move as
being definite step toward more
home owners Of better homes al
prices within the average income.
Stressing the Rehabilitation phase
OF the housing problem. Foley stated
that he would attend this week at
Washington, DC, conference On
rehabilitation. that is. the making
hsbitable dwellings now occupied
but really unfit for service. A re-
guest for the submission OF infor-
nation relative 10 the existence of
one block Of such masonry .struc-
lures as referred 10 in the preced-
ing description 10 be used as a lab
oratory study was also made 10 tine
housing head.
Pointed out as an excellent gauge
In the assurance Of sound invest
ment in any home purchase. the ad-
ministrator averred that no proper
ty purchase should exceed the pur-
chsser's income by more than two
and one-half or three times. The
high costs OF city land was also
cited as a major deterrent to home
ownership.
Foley pointed to the FHA's three
primary functions as ta) the max
ing possible Of home ownership
through insurance Of credit, Cbl
building and financing Of properly,
tcl modernization The problem Of
loan insurance for property pur-
ehases seems to be the Negroes pri-
mary difficulty with office Of the
local FILA administration located in
the First National Bank building
Other Leaders Pledge
Wholehearted Support
Remarks by Alex Linn Trout.
chairman of the City Planning and
Housing Commission, explained the
efficacy and desirability Of hous-
ing programs sponsored by the re-
Gently formed Limited Dividend
Corporations throughout the world.