Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1948-01-23

About week ago, there was an article IN
the local newspapers to the effect that many
homes were being built in Toledo. There can
be no doubt about this since we can see homes
in process of building in all sections OF the
city; but, the question is whether these home
can be rented or purchased at a reasonable
price.
The answer ITO this question is no. With
the exception of the veterans homes which
are about completed out in the Mayfair dis
trict, there are very few houses being built
that can be either purchased or rented by
workers.
We must admit that the average worker
who doesn't own home now and is living
exclusively on the wage which is given him
for his work has practically no chance to pur-
chase any of the homes which have been built
or which are now being erected.
HIGH RENTALS
Not only is the average worker unable to
purchase a home, but because of the high
rentals which are asked for homes which are
available he is unable to pay the rent asked
The worker today is caught between high
rentals on the one hand and lack of moderate
ly prices rental property on the other.
When the public housing projects were
erected they were intended for people in the
lower income bracket. During the depression
years, and until after wartime work provided
the workers with better income due to over
time work, these projects performed fine
service to the community. They still are doing
this although not to the same extent they
did before the war.
AS housing available for low income
groups, the public housing projects became
the residences of hundreds of our workers.
The income ceilings were set at a figure
where it made sense. +
Today, because the income limits have not
kept pace with the inflationary process pub
lie housing is available to constantly shrink
ing group, while many who are now living
in the projects are liable to eviction because
they are over the income ceiling. Public hous-
ing has become very low income housing.
THE CATCH
But even if the housing projects were
realistically priced, there are still hundreds of
families who are apparently outside the help
of anyone, while the Federal state and muni-
cipal governments do nothing or as little as
possible except to make housing political
football to be kicked all over the nation.
Nobody would deny the veterans any help
which has been given to them in the shape of
temporary housing projects located in various
sites in Toledo, yet even this is not enough to
take care of the housing needs of this group.
At the same time that the authorities arr
SHoWIHS IHeT COnCeTn, lltlle as III is, WIN the
veterans needs, it has done practically moth
ing for the rest of the population whose hous-
ing needs are equally serious.
Talk about a Federal Housing Act is still
talk. 1t has been conversation and nothing
else for the past two years and appears likely
to remain just talk for the balance OF this
year.
In the meantime, high priced homes are
standing idle in a number of high priced sec
of
for a place to live This is a condition that
should not be forgotten when November rolls
around. 1t is a condition to which we should
give our immediate attention.