European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 06, 1985, Darmstadt, Hesse Hud is undertaking a study to document exactly what resident management has accomplished across the country. But she says the department already knows the record1" Are Good because they re turning Back operating subsidies that they Don t need. Impressed by the Success of Kenilworth Parkside and resident management corporations in St. Louis Jersey City Jamaica Plains. Louisville and new Orleans the House is considering a Hud appropriations Bill that sets aside 51 5 million to train resident managers. In addition the Amoco foundation gave Woodson s group $1.9 million Lor training and business development in Public housing projects. On the government Side. Hud has introduced a series of Quality of life measures to encourage resident management self sufficiency. Business development and the Purchase of Public housing units by residents. The Agency is writing a regulation that endorses tenant management urges Public housing authorities to cooperate with tenant groups interested in self management and allows tenant managers who save Money to keep a share of the saving the regulation addresses a major obstacle to the spread of tenant management tension Between Public housing authorities and resident groups who think they can be better managers. There s no question that a certain amount of friction exists Between residents that want to manage and housing authorities that want to continue to control the Money give out the jobs and give of the says Hud s june tenant landlords the determination to help them Elvet that hat propelled tenant manage to Success in at Lea five Public homing project across the country hat become a rallying Point for the Reagan administration and Black Conter Palivet. Money to operate Day care confers of Kem Worth Par tide above in Wathington d.c., Tor example wot rated by ret Dentt who have made a Success of managing the 464-unit Federal Houting project contract my scene Ore m f he soul h Bronx area of new York left and at the Pruitt loge Public protect a St. Low. Koch. She Gays the new Hud regulation would give incentives to cooperative housing authorities strained relation Between tenants and hour Rye authorities were cited by Janet Quint a senior re or Char at in manpower demonstration research corp. In new York to explain the failure of live tenant management corporation in a three year seven site demonstration project that in 1979. But Woodson and others believe the resident managers in the project financed by Hud and the Pord foundation were doomed because they were expected to work closely with the housing authorities and use existing management procedures. Woodson compared the demonstration project to taking a car with four Flat tires and changing the Driver. Kenilworth is successful because the sanctions and incentives Are being imposed by Peers on Peers it s an entirely different level of accountability. You become City without support without the Opportunity to make mistakes to try new and innovative techniques you re just playing games agrees Mildred Hailey. Executive director of the Bromley Heath tenant management corp. Near Boston. She adds another requirement the tenant group has to want to do it because it s hard work and commitment. It s a business. It does t come if the demonstration project had been followed up. Says Hud s Koch the researchers would have seen tenant management take Oft. There s a time for everything and it s pretty Clear that the time has come now. There s a growing political awareness among people that they Don t have to sit on their hands and be miserable with the roof coming Down and no heat " despite the enthusiasm radiating from Hud and Woodson some people Are unsure about whether resident management can work on a Large scale. Among them is the executive director of the National tenant organization. There s interest in tenant management concedes Maxine Green whose group has affiliates in 38 states. But she contends that housing authorities cannot maintain Public housing projects on the current budget so How on Arth Are tenants going to do it my position is that tenants should not fantasize on managing something that they re not going to have appropriate funds to manage properly. They la become the slum landlords of this on the other hand rep. Henry Gonzales atm Texas. Chairman of the House subcommittee on housing is a firm supporter of resident management Gonzales says he worked for a Public housing project in his san Antonio District 35 years ago and adds. I had a Chance to observe the potentials of Plain Ordinary people that ordinarily Are dismissed just because they live in Public housing i m very however Gonzales voices the widespread suspicion that the Reagan administration views tenant management As a prelude to widespread Purchase of Public housing units by residents. And what Hud advertises As the fulfil Lent of the american dream of Home ownership others see As a strategy to divest the government of housing obligations regardless of the residents Best interests. They argue that without government subsidies tenants and owners will not be Able to maintain their property. Is the onslaught of creative initiatives tenant management Home ownership Are these just some Steps toward the eventual demise of Public housing asks Karen Hill director of housing for the National Urban league. That s Why a lot of people Are so sceptical about endorsing this. We be seen projects go under. There Are some horror stories out the rumblings Over Public housing touch a raw nerve among Black leaders divided about How Best to achieve Progress for the Black Community and what role the government should play. Liberals believe the Best Way to help the poor is to have a professional class of people to manage their lives for charges Woodson. A sell described conservative Independent. The self help Credo he adds is not necessarily a turn to the right. It s common but Gonzales contends that republicans traditionally have resisted Public housing and believe that no red blooded american goes to Public housing. They Are fascinated by the desire Lor sell Reliance. They have been enraptured but they re latecomers to the Kimi Gray takes her allies where she can Lind them the Reagan administration. Woodson and company the local Urban league and a act chapters. It s not about liberals and conservatives she Days. It s about grass roots people wanting to help themselves. Self sufficiency what can you say against it and it we have 3,0x30 Independent residents and it rubs olt on 2,000 others that s called wobere.1985 the stars and stripes Page 15
