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Show Page 4 HOUSING- Where Do We Go people as you can who rent from the same landlord and make up a force.’ “A landlord may be able to A Welfare Mother Seeks evict one of his tenants but he certainly is not going to be able to A HOME throw them all out.” “The name of the game is power — social power and we want to have a voice.” by Marie Darling The FHA 235 program was not designed for the poor of Utah. In fact; most of the poor in Utah are - too poor to qualify for this program. The lower middle class in Utah have benefited by FHA 235, but not the poor who really need housing. ; As a welfare recipent, | have had quite an enlightning experience with this program. With prices rising and welfare grants being cut, interest going up and employment going down, many of the poor find themselves in the same spot | was in. . . . forced to give up their home and move to a smaller, inadequate house. In September, 1970, | was living with my daughter and her two At this time, we made application for a 235 home, but the salesman made it plain they did not want welfare people in_ their sub-division. However, when | asked if he was refusing to accept my application, would take it but he you said, ‘no, to it’s immediate | call | unaccesable residents. “City Planners appear to know the same question will arise, assume that there doesn’t need to “Have you found a job, yet?” | be a ghetto, one spokesman noted, have tried but welfare people are “at the same time they surmise that human and need homes just as I'm still waiting. Whenever other families, regardless of whether they go to work or not. “The Federal government says we can have a home but we don’t. The law does not say you have employed. The program in to be other areas does allow homes for welfare families. When will Utah start “taking care — of it’s own?” We need more than ever to unite and work together to be heard. Join Welfare Rights now and let’s work small children in a 3 bedroom home, with a very small kitchen and living room. We spent 6 weeks hunting across the valley for a place to rent for myself and my 8 children. The union will try to give lower income groups a voice in future housing decisions. Currently, they Senator Moss wrote FHA in my are dealing with a master plan that behalf, Father Merrill and other is rapidly turning Central City into friends of mine have written but an area that will be financially | together Family to better our conditions. Assistance NOT Welfare Existence!!! member, says that he and other members of the J.C.s are working on a public awareness campaign to alert the entire community to the problems in Central City. We are attempting to find what the Tenants to operate without a staff; and why a minority person can't be placed on obtain Platt are maps, Richard Pappaport, of the legal defenders office, discussed the rights of tenants. He assured tenants that one can't be evicted time in telling me they were NOT accepting any 235 application and that | have to be employed to The establishment of an active tenants union to get power and an until after having been to court. qualify for a 235 home. economic voice in Central City for 1970 our own set of data and a presentation to the state legislature . .. to can come up with some also noted Building Laury Hammel, student at the University of Utah, noted that students have many of the same problems as working class people. Hammel encouraged that a person pay $1 a year fee and be a tenant. For more information Problems $60 now to $105 present a month. in Roy Sharing, of the same apartment house, stated the bathtub in his apartment has been plugged for three weeks and that his rent had been raised from $70 to $85.50. Sharing has pans to catch the water from the leaky roof but he still has an inch of water in some places that can't be dried up. A rent strike against the landlord is currently in progress at the apartment building. One student spoke out saying that told every month, it won't be long | corner—it’s before | receive my application and some definite word on available housing. But in the meantime I ve had a fire in my back hall twice from a faulty hot water tank. On cold nights my oldest child and | redecorate. For the best values in paint and wallpaper, complete with counseling on home improvements, see Norm Hall. at STATE take turns staying up all night so we can heat the house with the oven. | have had to get Mr. Mayne from the Apprenticeship Training Program to come and repair the plumbing. All the faucets must be turned on with pliers. But | know I’m lucky—I have a place for only 1/3 of my income. An FHA 235 home would only be 1/4 of my income. I'm still waiting. WALLPAPER. time to clean is a delightful He carries all types experience. year and that her landlord would talk to her about-not having enough money to fix her place with $100 bills in his pocket. “I’m not paying the rent until the window is fixed,” she added. GET INVOLVED by Wilbert M. Mason, Jr. lt was 4 years ago that President Johnson sent his 1966 civil rights package to Congress with provisions aimed at trying to eliminate discrimination in southern jury selection and in the nation’s housing. The long awaited legislation would protect civil right workers from the acts of violence or intimidation, with penalties to life imprisonment in cases of death Attorney General to initiate and it gave the a stronger hand school desegregation cases without waiting for complaints. The Civil Rights Act of 1966, the fifth 1957 met many the civil in the field since of the demands rights leader’s of for strengthened legislation. Only the fair housing section was not as strong as some _ leader's wanted it. The five part package also omitted at least two proposals made by the civil rights leadership; indemnification of civil rights workers and removal of certain cases from state to federal courts. Mr. Johnson said no civil rights act, however historic, will be final after praising the results of the civil rights act of 1964 and the voting rights act of 1965. The President invited leaders of the civil rights groups to the White House to explain the consequences the bill. He rewrote the protection clause after the Supreme Court decisions on cases dealing with conspiracy to terrorize civil rights workers. Now in 1971 there is nothing in President Nixon's agenda that will FIGHT FOR suggest implementation of those civil rights provisions that became law under the previous administration. DECENT HOUSING Norm, also, carries a large line of toys and games for the youngsters. Drop in soon and make your home more beautiful for 1971. Civil Rights Laws of and of wallcoverings and a complete line of paints, including a color matching service. Prices are the lowest in town, and with friendly service and large selections, shopping at STATE WALLPAPER In Housing And the audience to work together against a common foe, to petition, and to organize. Union membership requires only Code Clark Passey, a Community repairs while tenants still occupy Then the welfare threatened to cut Action Program (CAP) housing aid, buildings. If the landlords can not my check until | found a house. | went to a realtor and developer urged people to stand together and be made to comply, funds have granted for the Board of next and there for the first time stand for their rights. ‘“The object,’ been ‘says Passey, “is to get as many Health itself to make the repairs. found a little hope. My daughter went out and rented herself another place and | stayed STATE WALLPAPER at the house. | made my $100 334 South Main down payment and waited. Now 4 Norm Hall, Owner & Manager Spring is just around the months later, I’m still waiting. | am Needed tenants rights,’ he said. under the things were so bad on his block that the Board of he had to, ‘take windows out of City residents, was Health has been given more than the condemned place next door,’ | began contacting realtors, all Central at a the mere power to condemn; to put on his apartment. Another agreed that | could not qualify for a discussed in November, 235 home unless | was employed meeting held in the Public Health forcing occupants to leave. The woman stated that she had had a Department, 610 2nd East. Board can order landlords to make broken window in her house for a for at least one year. He Further Central City problems. “The idea is Action to develop to make upcoming see if we from J.C.s | John Manson, (CAP) aide, says getting some rights for the tenants is one of the first tasks to be considered. CAP people are now circulating a servey to _ identify appartments owned by slumlords include: broken windows, leaky roofs, plugged plumbing, etc. In One apartment building, the rent was raised on one Chicano family, recreation, and sanitation. by Toni Heesacker will provide Ryan, another J.C., states they are trying to find out why the City Housing Authority is attempting endorsements, and are checking federal money grants. Other Central City problems being investigated by the J.C.s include: employment, Organizes office legal council when legal actions are taken by local unions against landlords, and will meet with renters to educate them to their rights as tenants. call 363-4593. attempting to Union Pappaport’s Here? problems are and speak from, “you, to us, to them” Branch said. Dennis the staff if it is secured. In addition the are wasting your time.’ A local bank wasted no there doesn't need to be any poor.” Rob Branch, a Salt Lake Jaycee From FOR EVERYONE You can_ believe there is a urgent need for the present administration to take further action, especially in the area of public housing. As everyone Knows, segregation still prevails in federally supported low-cost public housing on a sacle that is beyond belief. The pattern of racism must be broken up to avert a real crisis. _ |