Non-Profit Housing is Alive and Kicking
Diocesan Press Service. May 2, 1975 [75170]
WASHINGTON, D. C. -- Frustrated but still willing to try seemed to be the general reaction of the leaders in religiously sponsored, non-profit housing who gathered the last week in April to discuss the ramifications of the new Housing and Urban Development Act which went into effect this January.
The National Housing Consultation brought together women and men from across the country to exchange housing models, identify new strategies, and reaffirm a common commitment to decent housing for all Americans.
The consultation was sponsored by the Joint Strategy and Action Committee (JSAC) Housing Task Force, and the Interreligious Coalition for Housing (ICH), of which the Episcopal Church is a member.
According to John Vanderbeck, president of National Housing Services for National Ministries, American Baptist Churches, the consultation "accomplished what it set out to do -- to indicate to the administration and congress that church groups could come out of diversification and produce a unified position. " He added, "We're going to keep pressing for decent housing and we'll be back. "
The main thrust of the consultation centered on six workshops covering housing for the elderly, land use policies, financing, management, public housing, and meeting the housing promise. Out of these sessions came firm and positive recommendations for future action.
Among the Episcopalians participating in the consultation were Woodrow W. Carter, officer for social welfare of the Executive Council staff; Howard Quander, director of the Community Action and Human Development Commission; Nelson Canals, associate executive secretary of the National Commission on Hispanic Affairs; the Rev. Franklin Turner, executive coordinator for Black Ministries; and Charles Bound, chairman of the Executive Council's Ghetto Loan and Investment Committee.
On April 22, thirty-three religious leaders met with administration officials at the White House to urge greater support of non-profit housing. The delegation was led by the Rt. Rev. Paul Moore, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New York, and James Christison, executive secretary for National Ministries for the American Baptist Churches.
The group expressed their strong concern over the failure of the government to support non-profit housing fully and suggested the establishment of a council composed of non-profit housing leaders and government officials to promote dialog between sponsors and administration.
Besides Bishop Moore, Episcopalians attending the White House conference included Bishop Richard B. Martin, executive for ministries, Bishop Milton L. Wood, executive for administration, both on the national Church Center staff in New York City, and the Rev. John Stevens, interim director of JSAC, New York City.