Box 3, Folder 13, Document 57

Box 3, Folder 13, Document 57

HOUSING SUB-COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Housing sub-committee of the Central Citizens Advisory
Council is concerned about the problems of welfare recipients
in public housing and public housing conditions in general.
This committee has studied these problems, met with welfare and
housing officials to discuss them and still has found no relief.
The minimum standards for welfare grants and the allowance for
shelter must be increased.

I. The Department of Family and Children Services is called
upon to adjust welfare grants so as to remove inequities
in housing and maintenance. This adjustment will require
legislative action:

A. The Georgia State Legislature is called upon to in-
crease the standard budget allowance for shelter in
Department of Family and Children Services grants
throughout the state, and to allocate the money ne-
cessary to fund these grants.

B. We request and investigation by the Legislature of

the present system of payments to determine basis for
adjustment.

II. The state laws should be amended to provide:
A. Tenant participation in:

1. We recommend that Tenants serve on policy-making
boards. Also we recommend the reduction of the
terms of office of the housing authority members
from ten to three years.

2. Management
a. Development of respect for tenant organizarions
in an advisory capacity; prohibition of turning
off utilities for non-payment of rent.

b. Establishment of tenant-review board to hear
and investigate complaints, recommending dis-
ciplinary action in repetitious cases; disci-
plinary action against management upon 10 or

more written complaints filed with the tenant
association.

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c. Appointment of tenants to the next vacancies
on boards from a democratically selected
Toll Tne

list of nominees.

d. Appointment of resident from tenants as pro-
ject managers.

Requirements for health and sanitation to meet the
original goals of public housing for tenant families
at the expense of the housing authority and no in-
crease in rents.

Reorganization of eviction procedures to:

1. Allow six days instead of present four

2. Removal of reguirement for double indemnity bonds
where dispossessory warrants are contested in
court.

3. Require that receipts be frunished tenants for
all charges including: warrantees, utility bills,
repairs, etc.

4. Removal of Section 9-A and like provisions making
evictions purely discretionary with managers.

The officials and staff of public housing authorities are
called upon to work for the social goals recommended by
the Housing Assistance Administration March 22, 1968, in-
cluding also:

A.

Sty

Respect for tenants as individuals and human beings.

Same regulations and codes for public housing as exist
for private housing.

Uniform requirements in regard to rules and elimination
of dues except as established by tenant associations.

Arrangement of office hours and facilities to suit
convenience of most tenants.

Public announcements and advertising in regard to
vacancies, changes and possibilities for transfers,
as well as, itemized financial reports by housing
authorities.
Raising minimum income requirements for youth family
members to $600 before inclusion as family income
for rent adjustments.

Rents not to be increased on the basis of a child's
income for one year after high school graduation on
the assumption that he will be saving for future
educational expenses.