By Sr. Janet Valente

About 200 people representing various groups throughout the city concerned about housing, met at the DeKalb County Courthouse on Jan. 13. After some discussion and amending, this newly formed coalition adopted six major goals. There will be an active campaign between now and March 1 to get 150 various organizations and groups to pledge their support to the effort.

Dr. J.R. Taylor, chairman of Judge Edenfield’s committee on the dispersal of public housing, stated that 18 sites in unincorporated areas and twenty-two sites within the city limits have been located for possible future dispersal. Much serious consideration has been given to the number of units advisable so as not to change the tone of a neighborhood, the various designs for public dwellings that could be possible, quality public housing with services available and the whole question of leased housing.

The Atlanta of the future, Dr. Taylor said, must be a diverse community which will consist of high cost dwellings in the city as well.

Adopted goals are:

1. OPEN HOUSING FOR THE ATLANTA REGION. We will work actively to make it possible for everyone regardless of race, creed, color or sex to be able to buy or rent a house in any area he can afford. What we seek here is the application and enforcement of the 1968 Fair Housing Law.
2. DISPERSAL OF PUBLIC HOUSING. We support the dispersal of public housing in complexes of 50 to 100 each throughout the five county area. Such complexes can be absorbed into the established neighborhoods without destroying their character.
3. NEW CONCEPT IN LEASING UNITS TO HOUSING AUTHORITY. We urge the housing authorities to explore and develop creative plans for leased housing. The National Housing Acts of 1965 and 1970 enable authorities to lease housing in private developments.
4. THE CREATION OF A HOUSING OPPORTUNITY CENTER. We will work diligently to establish a Housing Opportunity Center, a quasi-public agency, to cooperate with the private sector in obtaining housing for all, including low-income and minority persons throughout the Atlanta region.
5. THE BUILDING OF MORE MIDDLE AND UPPER INCOME HOUSING IN THE CENTRAL CITY. We support the efforts to obtain these goals.
6. THE PRESERVATION OF RESIDENTIAL AREAS. We advocate the strengthening of these neighborhoods, including public housing, through code enforcement, responsible zoning and rehabilitation and selective replacement of housing.