Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-09-13
Housing
Picture

By ROBERT c. WEAVER


Housing end Home
FinOnes Agency
All areas Of our home
building and community re-
development programs are on
the march.
The Housing Act Of 1851,
which President Kennedy de-
scribed as 'the most impor-
tant and far-reaching Federal
legislation in the field Of hOus-
ing since the enactment Of the
Housing Act Of 1949," started
an upSwing in BODYBUILDING
that has continued in 1868. BY
July 81, almost 100000 new
non-farm dwelling units had
been started, and it was esti-
mated that construction vol
ume would reach is million
units by this years end.
Indeed, in the 2h-year Pc
riod from January, 1861, to
June so, 1868, the Nations
housing supply was increased
by SIS million units with q
consequent release into the
United States economic
stream Of an investment Of
about "a billion.
The record Of the last two
years marks them as the
greatest period Of housing and
community improvement In
our history, and we truly can
say that we are beginning to
deal with our urban and
housing needs on q scale COM
menSurate with our urban
growth and rising housing
standards. But we are still
far from achieving our ma
tiOnal housing goal Of "a de-
cent home and q suitable hv-
ing environment for every
American family"
MesUOss TO Congress
As President Kennedy said
In bis housing message to
Congress In 1851: I'VE have
progressed but we must
still redeem this pledge to the
IA million American families
who currently live in sub
standard or deteriorating
homes, and protect the other
80 million American families
from the encroachment Of
blight and sums"
Under the Kennedy admin
iStratiOn, lower interest rates
and longer mortgage terms
have made home financing
less expensive for the Ameri-
can homebuyer and have
expanded the potential mar
ket for the home building In
duStry. The gains have been
substantial. But they could be
enlarged even more If the still
untapped market Of non-white
families who are seeking "a
decent home and a suitable
living environment" were not
being overlooked by many
builders.
The Housing and Home Fl
nance Agency has made a
special study Of the potential
housing demand among non
whites.
f.; The study showed q spec
tacular rise In the incomes Of
nOn-white families during the
decade Of the sos, and q re-
sulting growth Of q significant
middIe-class housing market
among them.
In q metropolitan areas
that were analysed the total
number Of non-white persons
earning more than $4,000 q
year increased nearly Is
times from 1919 to 1859, from
about 5000 to almost $4,000.
Economic Advances
As a result Of their eco
nomic advances-along with
occupational, educational and
other improvements In their
status-urban non-whites have
moved rapidly into the mar
ket for better housing and
shown q significant rise In
home ownership.
But the study also showed
that the disparity between
white and non-white housing,
even at higher income levels,
still Is great and that the
economic market for better
housing for non-whites re-
mains largely unsatisfied.
President Kennedy's exec
utive order on equal opportu-
nifty in housing has helped to
open the door to home owner
ship for all Americans-and
at the same time to assure a
healthy and prosperous home
Dulldlng INDUSTRY.
Equality Of opportunity In
housing-as In other areas Of
our hfe-would remove a fac
tor that restricts our economic
growth. Most businessmen
are aware of this. And in
community after community
they have used their good
offices to help make It a
reality. But equality Of oppor-
tunity Is more than just good
business. II Is evidence Of our
integrity AZ a Nation and our
faithfulness to the ideals upon
which II was founded.