The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-02-05
NAACP
CONTINUED from Page II

u Ontinucu ITOm rage ~
war housing agencies, indicate that
the amount OF housing from this
source will be inGn!tes!mally small
in comparison with the overwhelm-
in- need OF Negroes for housing at
the moment. While we welcome
he efforts Oft this group they can
only supplement the program Of
housing as provided by federal pub
lie agencies.
You are placing the public hous-
ing program in jeopardy and retard-
ing the entire war effort by picay-
une rational.zations TO cover up
failure TO provide adequate housing
for all workers. These arguments
when examined leave the agency
responsible. There is no reasonable
answer TO existence OF present
policies which in effect constitute
waste of tax money. prolongs the
war. and indirectly causes increased
hardship at the front. Such waste
is inimical TO the war effort and
those who are responsible shall be
ultimately held to public account"
Text Of the Appeal TO Biandford
Recent compilations Of employ
ment and housing date relative to
the Willow Run area will disclose
that there Is a need for housing OF
Negro war workers which. partially,
can be met through more COM
plete utilization of existing housing
facilities. That the remaining need
is absolutely essential to the war
effort, cannot be denied. 1t is our
Arm belief that some OF the ex-
pressed need for housing can be
handled through complete utiliza-
ton OF already available publicly
financed housing.
1T has been disclosed on reliable
authority that estimates for the
Willow Run Bomber plant, were
apparently higher than actual pro-
duction needs. Thus housing pro-
grammed by private and public
agencies has been more than ade-
quate to meet the needs as ex'
pressed by white workers. We un-
derstand that FPHA has been un-
able to find tenants who can meet
Immigrant war worker require
ments for 1000 dormitory units, SOC
sin gle family homes. 300 furnished
apartments, and 700 additional
homes under construction.
"A similar availability existed re-
Gently in private housing. built for
Willow Run workers when sur
vey disclosed approximately $500
| newly built homes standing empty.
Building interests, however, ap-
pealed for a relaxation in occupancy
requirements and secured permits
sion to dispose Of these dwellings
in other ways.
The federal government ought 10
be as resourceful and in view OF the
expressed need Of vitality needed
| Negro war workers for housing -
a need which MIA and FJHA is no
meeting-we urge that there be
revision in the occupancy policies
and that housing be made available
to workers who can qualify regard
less Of race, creed, or color.
Mr.. Sharpe, to whom we have
addressed a similar request, reptile
that the question OF need for ad
ditional housing for essential wa
workers is a matter not under tn
jurisdiction OF his agency. There
fore we are appealing to MIA.
THE question now involves NOR
than discrimination based on race
as we originally charged early j
l943, when it was apparent tina
both MIA and FPHA intended t
proceed with discriminatory hous
ling projects. The question today in
, wolves waste of tax money by al
lowing projects to stand idle, add
ing an increased burden TO the wa
effort II is our understanding tina
there are plants in the area tina
need workers. These plants are be
hind in their production schedule
due TO inability to hire desired Ne
gro workers because OF non-exiSt
ent housing. Thus your polio
hampers the war effort, prevent
the men at the front from receivin
vital supplies as speedily as the
might obtain them.
Certainly the war effort II ne
enhanced by a reasonable polio
which keeps projects empty an
denies them TO needy and vital wa
workers. Nor can the policy no
be defended on the grounds tn;
ASS gnments' programmed for whit
occupancy will be occupied by ell
gible families This is the statemer
that was made TO us by Mr.. Sharp
and we respectfully call it to yol
attention.
1--WE urge, therefore. that in vie
OF the aforementioned facts, tn;
your agency ought to carefully r.
view this entire matter and tax
] necessary steps TO change the pc
ic- in order that available dwell
/ iings in the Willow Run area can
| utilized and needy war workers ca
II l. s,,av,Adfntnlts