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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Relations Commission - Minutes - 04/22/1968i'OIU COLLINS COMMISSION ON HUI i COMMISSION MEET!NG aprll 22, 1933 ---coo--- A Commission meeting of the Foit Collins Cammissio;a Apri?. on Human Relations was held at the City Conneil Chamber, 300 1968 La Porte Avenue, Fort Collins, Colorado on Monday, April 22, 1_68, at seventhirty-five o'clock in the evening. PRESS There were present: Father Edward Ostertag Mrs. John Matsushima Mr. Thomas Wilson ✓ Mrs. David Landers ,Mrs. Jessie Godinea ,-Mr. Henry Chavez Dr. S. R. Schneider S .-Dr. Parker Preble -Mrs. Mary Anderson Mrs. Walter Atherly Mr. Ralph Braden Chief Ralph Smith f Dr. Albert Nelson comprising a quorum of the boar:; also Mr. John David Sullivan ... Legal Ldvieo One press representative and 23 spectators ANSIV Absent: Dr. Karl, Carson v Mr. Eugene H. Smith C,.11I s:r>!', Tom Wilson talled '.'hem ported on his meeting with CSU to the Public Hearing with the 'Civil Rig.,lts Comr.,ission ::.Id 'i :, final obsevvarions and Feromr:enirn4:i.oc;a. It was doci,de_'' ha'; both the list of witness as ai.zi �3a Ys pluv t ervation and recommendations report he duplicated and given t:4r. each commission member including the CI-Y Council and C4.+:y Manager. Father Edward Ostertag was appointed by Fr,!sideinll st= •,F;LSCT., to represent tha City Commission on the CSO Commia,aior., The president called for comm9.tter rcpo°zks EDUU. dPd D)S-- No report MITT;,:' : �(7PORe' 0 M Minutes of Human Relations Commission April 22, 1963 Page 2 RESEARCH COM- No report MITTEE REPORT PUBLICITY COM-• Notices were inserted in the Fort Collins Coloradoan MIRTEE REPOR'. and Star Newspapers for four Sundays - March 17, 24, 31, and Mrs. John April 7, to advertise the existence of the Commission. Matsashima Reporting Mrs. Dorothy Heynau of the Welcome Wagon was contacted to have her notify all newcomers of the Commission. The office of Mr. Percy Schmelzer of Poudre R-1 School District was also notified that we were ready to give assistance where needed. GRIEVANCE AND The Grievance and Investigation Committee investi- INVESTIGATION gated three areas where problems of individuals within the COMITTEE community could stem from or could be helped. REPORT Dr. Albert 1. Current status of a housing code encompassing Nelson rental housing. Reporting 2. Availability of legal advice and representation at low or no cost. 3. Feasability of a Better Business Bureau. The following recommendations are made to the Human Relations Commission: 1. The Fort Collins Human Relations Committee re- commends to the Fort Collins City Council that a strong housing code which specifies minimum standards of health, safety, sanitation and con- struction for rental housing be adopted and pro- vided with avenues of effective enforcement. 2. The Fort Collins Human Re]-:stions Commission. com- mend the Larimer County Community Ac,,'Aon Program in writing for legal advice and representation to northern Larimer County residents who ce.,mot otherwise afford such services and ofer its support and assitance in the establishment of legal aid service. 3. The Fort Collins Human Relations Commission appoint a member(s) of the Commission to act as a liaison between the Community Action Program and the Cam - mission. Minutes of Human Relations Commission April 22, 1968 Page 3 GRIEVANCE AND 4. The Fort Collins Human Relations Commission pro - INVESTIGATION vide through its research and education committees COMMITTEE a program (speakers, films, and other material) REPORT (Cont.) on "the practices of buying on time" outlining the common salesmen approaches, contracts, inter- est charges and other pitfalls. As a point of information, Dr. Nelson reported that it is not feasible at the present time to form a Better Business Bureau La Fort Collins due to lack of funds. As a point of interest in the enactment of human relations,this committee cites the newly established "Martin Luther King Fund" at CSU for the support of graduate students from minority groups. It was then moved by Dr. Nelson and seconded by Ralph Braden that recommendation Number one be approved. The motion carried. The president requested that the secretary comply with the recommendation, Number two of the report. The sec- retary noted the request. It was moved by Father Ostertag and seconded by Dr. Nelson that the commmission urge our citizens to support the Martin Luther King Fund. Tom Wilson introduced the guest speakers for the evening. Mr. W. 0. East and Mr. Tim Sullivan, Director and Assistant Director respectively of the Federal Housing Admin- istration. Mr. East spoke first on the program for Purchase and Rehabilitation of Housing for Resale to low income purchasers referred to as 221-H Program. The program is geared primarily to provide home owmersh— is to the lotus income families. ?;^ace income was categorized as follows: 1 member family unit $2800.00 per annum 2 " if " 3200.00 " " 3 " if it 3600.00 " it 4 " it is 3800.00 " 10 5. " " it 4100.00 " rr 6 " " it 4300.00 y and over " it 4600.00 It was also spelled out that the low income group could not hold net assests in excess of $5000.00 Non-profit sponsor takes options on properties - 8 or less in number. M M Minutes of Human Relations Commission April 22, 1968 Page 4 Properties must have basic plumbing, heating, elect- ricity and be in a repairable condition. Sponsor is looking at acquisition cost plus rehabilitation cost. FHA insures the project for the lender. Construction or interim mortgage is between the sponsor and the lender. At closing of permanent loan there are eight closings or one for each individual property. Loans carry annual inter- ast-rate of three percent and term of 20 to 25 years. Average payment is $45.00 to $50.00. Floor plan properties are not acceptable nor are those which are in too bad a condition. Mr. Tim Sullivan spoke second on the Rent Supplement Program. He said that a rental project of this nature has to be made up of at least eight units in order to participate in the program. it is sponsored locally and the owner must have at least tan percent equity in it. Not over 25 percent of the renters income can go for rent, and the government will sub- sidize up to; but not over, 70 percent of the rent for a poverty family. The permanent loan at the present is six percent and can run up to 40 years. Large insurance companies are providing the bulk of the loans. The housing as such is not luxury, neither is it barrack style. A project cannot be started un- less funds have been properly allocated for said project. In cities where there is no federal program on hous- ing, it is necessary for the City Council to pass a resolution okaying the program. A copy of this resolution is available. There are now two of these projects in Denver, about 50 percent completed. Anyone can move into the project regardless of their income if they want and can pay the full rent. Sometimes families have to be counselled on how to live in rental units. Sponsors have the right to evict an "incorr£gable family" if they cannot be counselled. A very recent program on low cost home ownership has been announced. The lender will finance at market rates with an FHA insured mortgage. HUD is working with Mobile Home manufacturers. A sound and liveable module house is available for $4500.00, building sites with 37k, feet of frontage which is sifficient for two dwelling units should not exceed $250.00. Ninteyseven percent loans.are available for permanent financing making the down payment about $150.00 The modular construction plan allows Minutes of Human Relations. Commission April 22, 1968 Page 5 expansion to four bedrooms. The dwelling unit must be permanently set on a foundation and hooked to city utilities. Those homes will be on the property tax rolls. /a/ S. R. Schneider, Secretary Fort Collins Human Relations Commission