The Coolidge examiner., 1946-06-07
Propose Plan
To Aid Veterans
Home BuiIdinu

S NAssNsss
Tuseon group have successful plan
to aid ex-serviecmen - Local
veterans will be called to hear
how TO obtain homes.
A possible method of solving the
housing problem for Coolidge vet
erans has been found in the plans
of group OF Tucson business men
and veterans who have gotten to-
gether and worked out the details.
Basic ideas OF the plan were ex-
planned Tuesday by Paul r. Ehlers.
vice-chairman of the Tucson group,
tc Dudley Lewis, Commander of
the Coolidge Legion post.
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A mass meeting Of all veter-
ans in the Coolidge area will be
called at an unannouced fu-
ture date, probably next week,
at (which time representatives
OF tho Tucson group will be
present to explain the program.
Lewis suggested that all local
veterans write him II they are
Interested in building here in
Coolidge so that by the time
OF the meeting, an estimate
OF the approximate number of
those interested. in. building
may be had. The time and
place Of the meeting will be
annnouced as soon as the de-
tails have been worked out.
Basically. the plan offers a way
that the veteran, through the pro-
visions of the G. l. Bill of Rights,
can build a home for himself and
his family without any down pay
ment and still have the kind of
home he wants. The G.. |. Bill will
completely finance building If the
house can be built for its apprais-
ed value as established by inspect
ors of veterans administration and
F. Fl. A. This has proven the
stumbling block in the past but
efforts OF the Tucson committee
and Tucson contractors have DEM
onstrated that houses can and will
be built at the appraised value.
The movement started when a
radio program. on a Tucson sta
tion received many complaints
about non-existant housing for vet
Grams In that city. The radio sta
ton then undertook to determine
the cost of converting West Camp.
a part OF Davis-Montnah Field. to
civilian dwellings. This idea was
pushed and finally the city coun-
Gil approved the idea and asked
for bids. Bids submitted were ex-
cessive and the idea was dropped
without any aid to the veterans
problems.
A carpenter came to the radio
station and said he was prepared
to build a three room house for
veterans for a price OF $S75 If the
veteran would assist in the work.
This idea was the basis of the
movement and several local busi-
ness men asked the veterans to
write In so that they might estab-
llsh an approximate number or
@Aoao ,.yho daofra1 20 htlfId fhofP
own homes. While these answers
were still coming in. Tucson con-
tractor. Paul Broman. said that he
could build homes for the veterans
that would sell for their appraised
value. This meant that the usual
margin of profit for the contractor
would be cut to approximately 10
per cent but because of the volume
OF business this was more than
justified. A mass meeting of vet
erans was called and the plan ex-
planned to them and a committee
was appointed to work farther
along these lines.
Through the efforts of the COM
mittee the necessary arrange
ments were made and procedures
were established with Tucson
banks and other organizations,
Mr.. Ehlers Is offering the exper-
ience of his group to any who may
be interested 80 that some real re-
lief might be expected in the hous-
ing crisis.