Los Banos Rotary Club History
Explains Details Of Government Housing Project

Jack Collins, Merced realtor and member of the Merced County Housing Authority, explained to members of the Los Banos Rotary Club Tuesday noon the operation and objects of the Housing Authority and the procedure necessary to secure housing units under the government program.

Prefixing his remarks with a brief history of housing problems since before the war, and experiences of the City of Merced in attempting to obtain housing facilities for the great influx of people stationed at Castle Field Air Base, Collins said that the County Housing group was appointed by the board of supervisors and charged with obtaining housing units under the U.S. Housing Authority Act of 1949.

Under this act the government has authorized some 810,000 housing units during the next six years in communities where there is a critical need and where such construction would not interfere with or destroy the value of regular rental properties. Exacting house-to-house surveys must be conducted in each community before approval for such housing can be obtained.
Collins said Merced has already applied for 250 such units and their application has been approved for 140 units. A survey conducted in Merced showed 1954 families living in sub-standard units or having no housing facilities at all.

The survey is financed by government funds, and the project is federally financed from the sale of special bonds.

Collins said the units will be two, three and four bedroom houses, well constructed, and cost an average of $1750 a room.

Rentals will be based upon ability to pay dependent upon the renter's annual income but is restricted to not more than 20 percent below the average private rentals in any community.

Rentals maintenance and control will be maintained by the County Housing Authority, and rentals will be selected on a priority basis of: 1st, occupants now living in sub-standard or "slum" units; 2nd, families of disabled or deceased veterans of World Wars I and II; 3rd, veterans of Wars I and II; and 4th, other employed persons.

Collins stated that the City of Los Banos is now considering application for 80 units, and that the local representative on the Council, O. M. Russell, will probably present the official application at the next meeting of the County Authority.

A new member of the Rotary Club, Charles Hauschildt, was introduced and officially welcomed by Past President Robert Puccinelli.

December 13, 1949

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