The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-01-13

VI VIC SiIuC.
The housing problem in the city
OF Detroit has been attacked from
time to time with a three-pronged
program. This three-pronged pro-
gram must be understood by the
average citizen and by the leaders
Of our community who are really
concerned about the housing sit
uation of workers in Detroit and
vicinity. The first prong of that
program is to plan with the Fed
eral Public Housing agency for as
much emergency war housing as
the situation demands. This pro-
gram is moving forward with
steady progress. II has not moved
forward with as much speed as
many Of us would like. On the
other hand. when one takes into
account the economic obstacles, the
sociological hurdles and the maze
OF political mancuvering. one must
deal with in order to make any real
progress in our democracy. the re-
suits 10 date are good. In two years.
working in the above mentioned
framework, We have been able to
open up the Moseley War Housing
project the Brooks Homes War
Housing project, the Sojourner
Truth Annex War Housing prof.
ect. the Ecorse project. the Inkster
project and numerous apartments
and other buildings converted in
to comfortable and decent living
quarters. In addition to this, we
have two hundred scattered war
housing units on otherwise vacant
scattered lots. Your columnist is
willing to admit and must admit.
that this all is a matter of using
what we had at hand, looking for
ward to the future for other oppor-
tunities to add war emergency
housing. The Oakdale Gardens
project is being opened this week
with one thousand. four hundred
units. 1t took two years OF plan
ming and work. TO watch this prof.
ect come into fruition II is here
now, thanks to all Of the people
who worked for it.
In this same connection. there Is
another large war emergency
housing project planned for De-
trOit. which will number at least a
thousand more units. To be in a
position to say this has taken many
hours Of toll and patience, but its
fruition, too, can be seen within
another five months.
The second prong used in attack
ing the housing problem of De-
trOit Is that Of encouraging private
builders. who must in the long run
build the majority of houses for
Negro occupancy, to face Detroit's
housing problem. This has been
done with view to a postwar de-
mand as well as present housing
demand. To date, your columnist
can say that real progress has been
made In this direction. There are
few builders in the city of Detroit
today who are not looking for an
opportunity to build houses for Ne
gro occupancy. in Detroit. 1t can be
said now that within another
month or so, a program of build
ing five thousand homes by private
builders for Negro occupancy will
be under way. To get such a pro-
gram started, 1t has taken cold
hard business talk, and many
hours of 1t. Here the private
builder had to be led through the
maze Of his own ignorance into the
light Of cold cash to be derived
from building houses for Negro
occupancy.
The third prong has been to- en-
courage Negro people who had
money and building ability TO get
foothold in this business while the
opportunity was open. The Wayne
County Better Homes and the Wat
son Realty company have respond
ed TO this opportunity in a mag
niiicent way. They have gone at it
as good business opportunity
rather than to meet some senti-
mental urge that they may have
had.
Let II be said Immediately. how
ever. that all of the groups, labor.
civic and church, have given sup
port to get more housing. These
organizations are still giving sup
port. They will continue TO give
support until the program is
achieved that befits a dynamic De-
troit as ii deals with a dynamic
problem. On the 18th of January,
a hearing with the Common Coun-
ell and certain governmental agen-
cies has been called 10 plan for
more housing for Detroit workers.
This l. altogether fitting and prop
err. One can only hope and prav
the discussants Of the problem will
try verv hard to keep away from
any vein of talk that seems to pit
white against black in dealing with
this problem.