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7 <br />J U L 17 1979 <br />41 FADE 165 <br />FHA PROGRAMS THE BOARD CANNOT HAVE ACCESS TO WITHOUT HAVING A HOUSING <br />AUTHORITY. THE CHAIRMAN TALKED ABOUT THE RENT SUBSIDY PROGRAM AND <br />NOTED THAT UNDER THIS PROGRAM THE RENT THAT MUST BE CHARGED IS $156 <br />FOR A TWO BEDROOM UNIT. WE HAVE HEARD TONIGHT THAT PEOPLE ARE PAYING <br />$45.00 A WEEK UNDER THE PRESENT CONDITIONS; THEREFORE, IF THE RENT IS <br />$180 FOR A STRUCTURE THAT NOW EXISTS, IT CANNOT QUALIFY FOR THE SUB- <br />SIDIES WE HAVE. THE CHAIRMAN AGREED THAT A HOUSING AUTHORITY WILL HAVE <br />PROBLEMS AND DOUBTED YOU CAN RESTRICT IT ONLY TO RESIDENTS, BUT WAS <br />OF THE OPINION THE WAITING LIST WOULD BE SO LONG THAT TRANSIENTS WOULD <br />NOT WAIT. HE AGREED THAT IT IS POSSIBLE THE BOARD HAS BEEN LAX IN <br />GETTING RID OF SUBSTANDARD HOUSING, BUT POINTED OUT THAT IT IS DIFFICULT <br />TO ENFORCE THAT WHEN YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO CREATE THE HOUSING FOR THE <br />PEOPLE TO LIVE IN. HE NOTED THAT THESE PEOPLE ARE PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS, <br />AND WE NEED THEM. <br />CHAIRMAN WODTKE CONTINUED THAT OUR HOUSING FINANCE AUTHORITY <br />CAN ADDRESS THE $15,000 - $30,000 HOUSE AND DROP THE INTEREST RATE TWO <br />POINTS, AND THE RENT SUBSIDIES MIGHT TOUCH SOME OF THE MODERATE INCOME <br />PEOPLE, BUT LOOKING AT THE TOTAL PICTURE, HE DID NOT SEE THAT WE HAVE <br />ANY CHOICE BUT TO CREATE A HOUSING AUTHORITY BECAUSE THERE IS_..A REAL <br />NEED WHICH HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED AND HE DID NOT FEEL WE CAN WAIT ANY <br />LONGER. <br />COMMISSIONER DEESON AGREED THAT THE NEED FOR BETTER HOUSING <br />HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED. HE FELT THAT TO SAY THESE PEOPLE ARE MERELY THE <br />VICTIM OF SLUM LORDS IS NOT ACCURATE, BUT THAT THE BLAME SHOULD BE. <br />SPREAD AROUND TO INCLUDE THE COUNTY WHICH ALLOWS THIS TO CONTINUE. HE <br />NOTED THAT PERHAPS ONLY THOSE WHO LIVE IN POVERTY CAN EMPATHIZE WITH <br />THE FRUSTRATIONS THAT COME FROM LIVING IN THESE CONDITIONS. HE AGREED <br />THAT AS AMERICANS WE ARE QUICK TO COME TO THE AID OF FOREIGN PEOPLES <br />AND BELIEVED WE SHOULD SHOW EQUAL INTEREST IN ELIMINATING SUCH CONDITIONS <br />IN OUR OWN BACKYARD. COMMISSIONER BEESON NOTED THAT THE HOUSING STUDY <br />ADVISORY COMMITTEE WAS UNANIMOUS IN RECOMMENDING THE CREATION OF A <br />HOUSING AUTHORITY BECAUSE IT PROVIDES ACCESS TO A GREAT DEAL MORS MONEY. <br />