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"r <br />J U L 171979 <br />a00K 41 pArx 151 <br />THROUGH THE MANY AVENUES AVAILABLE TO A HOUSING AUTHORITY; AND A HOUSING <br />AUTHORITY OPERATED BY A DEDICATED EFFICIENT STAFF WOULD NOT BE TIED <br />DOWN POLITICALLY OR COMMITTED TO ANY SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP. MR. LUNDY <br />AGREED THAT THE BOARD HAS EVIDENCED CONCERN ABOUT THE HOUSING PROBLEMS, <br />BUT FELT THEIR PRESENT PLANS WOULD NOT BE EFFECTIVE IN SOLVING THE <br />PROBLEMS OF THE VERY LOW INCOME FAMILIES - THE HANDICAPPED - THE <br />ELDERLY, ETC. HE STATED THAT A HOUSING AUTHORITY IS SIMPLY A TOOL TO <br />USE AS SKILLFULLY AS POSSIBLE FOR THE SAKE OF THE BEST COMMUNITY WE CAN <br />CREATE BY WORKING TOGETHER, RECOGNIZING THAT POVERTY IS A PART OF OUR <br />COMMUNITY. HE NOTED THAT THERE ARE HOUSING PROJECTS ALL OVER THE <br />NATION; THERE -ARE ABOUT SO IN FLORIDA, AND THEY HAVE BEEN VERY SUCCESS- <br />FUL IN MANY AREAS SO "WHY THE HASSLE IN INDIAN RIVER COUNTY?" MR. <br />LUNDY THEN TALKED ABOUT PREPARING A SPECIFIC PLAN WITH THE ASSISTANCE <br />OF HUD,, ALSO SETTING UP AN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM FOR ADMINISTRATION AND <br />SELECTING OF QUALIFIED TENANTS, AND GIVING PRIORITY TO RESIDENTS WITHIN <br />THE COMMUNITY WHO HAVE BEEN DISPLACED. HE NOTED UNDER THE COUNTY'S <br />PROPOSED PROGRAMS IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO PROVIDE RELOCATION FOR <br />POOR FAMILIES WHO ARE LIVING IN HOUSES THAT SHOULD BE DEMOLISHED. MR. <br />LUNDY SPOKE OF THE BITTER OPPOSITION OF THOSE WHO ARE "ANTI EVERYTHING," <br />AND NOTED THAT THERE ARE SLUMS WHEREVER YOU GO - EVERYTHING CAN `T BE <br />A JOHN'S ISLAND, BUT PROPERLY MANAGED HOUSING AUTHORITY COULD KEEP <br />DOWN SLUM CONDITIONS BY ENFORCING RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR PROPERTY <br />MAINTENANCE AND KEEPING SURVEILLANCE. HE STATED THAT THE CITIZENS OF <br />GIFFORD, WABASSO AND OSLO ARE PROUD OF THEIR COMMUNITIES AND WOULD NOT <br />SIT BY AND ALLOW A HOUSING PROJECT TO BECOME A SLUM. MR. LUNDY FELT <br />THE GROUPS OPPOSING A HOUSING AUTHORITY HAVE NOT MADE AN HONEST ON -THE - <br />SPOT EVALUATION OF THE HOUSING SITUATION OF THE LOW INCOME FAMILIES, <br />AND THAT THEY ARE NOT IN A POSITION TO MAKE A NEGATIVE DECISION. MR. <br />LUNDY CONTINUED THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE SUBSTANDARD HOUSES ARE OWNED <br />BY LANDLORDS, MANY OF WHOM LIVE IN VERO BEACH; AND WILL NOT DO ANYTHING <br />ABOUT THESE SHACKS EXCEPT COLLECT THE RENT. HE STATED THAT INDIAN <br />RIVER COUNTY HAS MANY WEALTHY CITIZENS WHO DO NOT FAVOR A HOUSING, <br />AUTHORITY AND ASKED IF, AS ONE OF THE OPPONENTS HAS SUGGESTED., WE ARE <br />