The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-05-01
NEGROES TOGET
$4,000 PUBLIC
HOUSING UNITS
War Housing Program
Provides III mes
For Race

Negro tenants will occupy APP
proXimaiely Sc 600 public housing
units. representing IL per cent Of
a total Of 7440 dwellings and de-
Vcloped al cost OF more than
$36n, n0o, no0. when the current pub
lie housing program is completed.
Herbert Emmerich. Commissioner
~ the Federal Public Housing Au-
ihoriiy. announced today.
According 10 recent estimates.
approximately $1,000 Of these
dwellings Will be provided by the
war housing program which
reached a total Of $4,000 units on
March Is The provisions for Ne
gro tenants comprise seven per cent
o. this program.
Under the low-rent. non-war
program. which totalled $4,000
homes. nearly 46 600 homes have
already been completed and occu-
pied by Negro tenants Many Of
these low-rent dwellings. located in
war production centers. now house
Negro war workers The scarcity
Of critical materials and labor. both
Of which must be used for vital war
purposes. has neccssitated tho Sus-
pension Of building under the low
rent program for the duration Of
the war Consequently, almost $500
Of the low-rcnt dwellings authorized
and planned for tenancy by Ne
groes are now temporarily sus-
pended.
In the development of the total
housing program. Negro construc-
ton workers had earned more than
S33 900. 900 at the end Of 1912 This
represented II per cent Of total pay
roll. expenditure Negro craftsmen
had received $1,000, 900 or four per
cent Of total wages paid TO skilled
workers.
Approximately 10000 OF the war
dwellings for Negro workers
brought into war production areas
have been completed for the hous-
ing OF families and single persons.
while 1900 are now under con-
struction. Under the speed OF the
war housing program. all these
should be completed and occupied
by June. l943.
Although detailed estimates are
not available. sizesble number OF
war workers are included among
the 10000 Negro occupants Of the
$4,000 low-rent homes developed by
the PWA Housing Division and the
United States Housing Authority
(now administered by FPHA).
These developments were con-
structed at a cost Of 500, 000. 900.
The total low-rent program Of
$4,000 units houses an estimated
462, 900 persons.
In addition to Negro construction
workers who have taken part in
the public housing program. Negro
manpower has also been utilized in
the management and maintenance
Of public housing projects. More
than 1000 Negroes are currently
employed in various capacities, in
Guiding managers. engineers, cleri-
cal. and custodial workers. One
hundred and thirty Negroes are
now in charge of projects. In the
total housing program. there were
about 2,700 projects as Of March
Is. l943.
Approximately 140 Negroes are
employed on the departmental staff
OF the FPHA in Washington, and 40
are working in FPHA regional Of
fees. These employees include
three lawyers. three architects, an
area management supervisor, pro-
ject planner. and junior manage
ment assistant recruited from the
ranks OF housing apprentices
trained in the agency. Negroes
comprise approximately one-tenth
OF the total employees
Discussing the relation between
Negro war housing and Negro war
production employment, Mr.. EN-
merich. speaking for himself and
John p. Blandford Jr.. administra-
tor OF the National Housing Agency
OF which FPHA is a constituent
unit, declared:
I'VE realize fully that public
housing is essential TO the efforts
Of American industry 10 comply
with the Presidents Executive Or
der 1902, reaffirming the non-dis-
elimination policy Of the United
States Government For us. accept
ing the responsibility Of meeting
the housing needs OF Negro war
workers. insofar as is possible I'M
der the limitations OF the war hous-
ing program. means only continuing
racial policies which have been in
effect throughout the history OF
public housing.
Since il is the policy Of the Ma.
tional Housing Agency and the
Federal Public Housing Authority
to provide war housing TO meet the
proportionate needs OF essential
Negro Immigrant war workers. the
percentage OF Negro participation
in the war housing program tend: