The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-05-26


THE NEW HOUSING CONTRO-
VERSY A few days ago, the
Federal Public Housing agency
announced that IL would build one
thousand four hundred u,400) de-
Tense homes for Negro defense
workers in the Ecorse- Dearborn
area. When the announcement was
first made. officials and represen-
tatives of the Ford Motor company
charged that the taking of the lant
for this purpose was nothing more
than a land grab" by the Federal
Government. IL was stated further
that there had been no investiga-
ton of the title TO the land by the
Federal agencies.
A month ago. FPHA Federal
Public Housing Agency discussed
the possibility OF establishing a
little Negro town in the Ecorse-
Dearborn area Some people
thought this would DE an unwiSe
move on the part Of the Federal
Housing agency because II was
furtherIng the program OF seSre-
gated housing 1t was stated also
that the housing needs of workers
in Detroit could not be met on a
segregated basis, namely, that OF
building houses for Negroes ana
building houses for whites IN sep
arata areas.
II was stated at the same meet
ing, called by representatives oil
the Federal Housing agency, that
the establishment of a new Negro
ghetto outside OF the corporate
limits of any city or village would
serve TO disadvantage for the
Negroes who were forced 10 live in
such a ghetto because Of the lack
Of housing within corporate gov
ernment limits.
After the Ford company had
made It's objection TO the housing
project in the ECOrse- Dearborn
area, the small communities or
three sldcs OF the proposed prof.
ect put in very strong opposition
TO the project. The opposition has
been SO strong until Senator Fer
suson has asked the FPHA 10 hole
up proceedings until there is ar
/ investigation Of the need for more
defense housing.
This new housing controversy
puts us squarely i'm the middle Ol
the housing problem as it confront.
public housing people and private
housing people. Unless there is
sharp turn i'm the need for more
manufacture Of war materials, Il
more defense housing at this time
IL can be established with clarity
however. that Detroit has an acut,
housing problem for all of lis
workers. To use the defense work.
or as an excuse for building more
defense houses for Negroes viii
serve in the long run To the dis
advantage Of the masses of Negroe,
who have come to Detroit to stay
and should he encouraged TO stay
under the best possible circum
stances. In other words, IL is fool
hardy to build 400 defense hOus
ing units at this time. when ac'
tually what we need now is long
term. permanent housing program
participated in by both private and
public housing agencies. 4 de
Tense housing program set up ir
the Ecorse Dearborn area viii
serve only as a miserable stop-gap
II prevents any real housing pro
gram from getting under way. he
cause IL does little, temporar,
something about big situation
that needs real spade work at thi'
time.
The housing program that mus
be instituted 20 deal With IN,
+ housing difficulties faced by grea
numbers Of Detroit Negroes, ha!
10 have planning by private build
ers. II has been demonstrated b,
public housing agencies and by
certain private agencies tha, il IL
possible 10 build with profit anC
satisfaction for Negro occupancy
II would be more profitable ~
/ the long run for the Federal gov
/ eminent, with local government
units. 10 work out a scheme where
by large tracts Of land could HI
purchased and improved by thu
governments, both local and fed