in the case of older borrowers. One-fourth say that as an established policy their terms for the older borrower are not essentially different than those for the younger applicants. One in every seven reported that their practice was to limit loan terms to from 10 to 12 years for borrowers over 60; 20 percent say that they try to keep the maximum loan term to 10 years. On the other hand, several associations have a maximum loan term as high as 15 years for borrowers of 60 years of age. In summary, it might be said that the housing problem of the aged families is no more difficult in its major aspects than the housing problems of families of any age. For any family, the purchase of a home requires money for a down payment which, in turn, requires either thrift and frugality on the part of the family, or cash put up by someone else. It further requires an income sufficient to meet the mortgage payments and a good credit history. The older family has had a longer opportunity to save for a downpayment and there is no problem in securing a credit history. Older people either have good credit, or they have established themselves as being poor credit risks. The major problem of the older family is in connection with income; the annuities and pensions upon which so many have depended during their twilight years have been severely affected by inflation. To the extent that the forces of inflation can be arrested and stability brought to the dollar by wise Federal fiscal policies, it should not be difficult for an aged family to buy a home and secure a mortgage loan to pay for a substantial portion of it, provided the family is in good health and has been frugal and careful with its money. Editor's note Facts and figures provided by Malcolm George of the Washington office of Social Security Administration point out that the old-age and survivors insurance program contributes in good measure today to the financial status of the aging. In most cases, benefits under this program are sufficient to give a real incentive to the aging worker to make provision for a comfortable old age, through the acquisition of real estate, insurance, savings, etc. Knowledge that a certain amount of cash will be coming in monthly after age 65 encourages a couple to endeavor to have a home paid for before retirement. According to the most recent survey statistics (1951), there are approximately 813,000 retired couples in the United States receiving monthly checks from the Social Security Administration, in amounts ranging from $37.50 to $127.50 per couple, where the wife is also over 65. In addition, it was found that 87.2 percent of those drawing benefits throughout 1951 had income other than their social security, the average being about $532 per year. Minority housing SUPPLEMENTARY STATEMENT OF NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF HOME BUILDERS The home-building industry is deeply sympathetic with minority famlies and their need for adequate, sound, and comfortable housing. We do, however, ask for understanding of the problems of our industry which make most difficult the building of homes available for minority families. Home builders must operate in the market place under conditions which are completely beyond their control. The conditions in the home-building market place across this country, as they relate to housing for minority families, arise from a deep-seated emotional conviction in the minds of people who make up the home-buying market. This emotional conviction, held by so many of the American people, cannot be changed overnight by legislative process, administrative directive or any industry. We hope that one day this attitude will have disappeared through education, understanding, and tolerance. Those who insist that housing for minority families must immediately be on a nonsegregated basis completely ignore this basic fact, i. e., the condition in the market place-a market place made up of people. We as home builders recognize the large potential which lies in the field of minority housing. We ask, however, that all people, both in and out of Government, recognize that there is no "pat answer" to the serious problems involved. We as home builders are dedicated to the task of doing everything possible to build good, sound housing for all people within this country, but such housing must be fitted into the conditions of the housing market-conditions which arise from the attitudes and feelings of people and which are completely beyond the control of our industry. College housing THE STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE OF COLORADO, Senator GORDON ALLOTT, DEAR SENATOR ALLOTT: During the last 3 years the State board of agriculture has dealt with the usual problems that confront the governing board of an institution that has a physical plant designed for 3,000 students but is now handling 4,000. At the same time the board has been seeking ways to finance the expansion of classroom, laboratory and housing facilities for an additional 4,000 students. This is no ordinary problem for us. In the next dozen years we must somehow construct more facilities on this campus than have been built in the previous 85 years of the college's history. If we do less than this we fail as a board in meeting the obligation we owe to the rising tide of young people who simply must not be denied the opportunity for technical training of the kind this institution is designed to give. In the meeting of the State board of agriculture held yesterday, all eight members discussed at length the proposal now under consideration by the Senate Committee on Banking and Currency for amendment of the Housing Act of 1950, relating to housing for educational institutions. This bill, S. 1744, was introduced by Senator Fulbright. Knowing of your interest in legislation of this kind, I assume that you are familiar with the terms of this proposal and will not take up your time in reciting how this legislation will enable colleges to construct student housing on a basis they can afford and yet ask for no net subsidy from the Federal Government. My purpose in writing you is to report the board's unanimous action instructing me to solicit on behalf of the board your assistance in obtaining favorable action by the Congress on this piece of legislation. The next meeting of the board is scheduled for June 17. On that date I should like to give the full membership a report on where this matter stands. It would be appreciated if I might hear from you by that time. A letter similar to this is being sent to Senator Millikin. In addition, I am sending copies of this communication to each member of the Colorado delegation in the House so that they may know our views well in advance of the time when this bill may be considered by that body. Sincerely, WARREN MONFORT, President. Hon. J. W. FULBRIGHT, Senate Office Building, Washington, D. C. UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA, DEAR SENATOR FULBRIGHT: At the recent meeting of the National Association of State Universities, held in New York, and at a meeting 2 days before of the American Council on Education committee on relationships of higher education to the Federal Government, the warmest appreciation was expressed for your introduction, with Senator Sparkman, of Senate bill 1744 which would amend the college housing loans section of the Housing Act of 1950. This problem of housing against the oncoming floodtide of increased enrollments has all of us responsible for university administration literally worried to death. The college housing-loan program has been a help although with certain handicaps which your bill would assist to remove and we are very grateful for your leadership in the matter and hopeful, indeed, that the bill will receive congressional approval. It was the feeling in both groups that the bill might have better success and be actually more useful in the context which you intend if the loans were to be confined to housing and related food service facilities and equipment rather than to broaden it quite so widely as proposed. You, of course, will be the better judge of all that. With appreciation, and the renewal of my personal regard, Cordially, J. L. MORRILL, President. Hon. J. W. FULBRIGHT, United States Senate, Washington, D. C. CENTRAL COLLEGE, Pella, Iowa, May 13, 1955. DEAR SENATOR FULBRIGHT: I have just received a copy of the Congressional Record which contains the amendment of Housing Act of 1950, relating to housing for educational institutions, which you and Senator Sparkman introduced as bill S. 1744. I deeply appreciate your concern and your thoughtfulness, and the comments which you make on the bill are most appropriate and especially your reply to the recommendation of the Hoover Commission. The need for Federal funds for housing for educational institutions is as urgent as ever and more so. With enlarged enrollments, staring us in the face for the next 10 to 15 years, there will be a real question as to where we can find money for building residences to accommodate the students who will be wanting an education. There is nothing more important that a Nation does than educating its youth. I sincerely hope that the act will be passed by both Houses and signed by the President. DEAR SENATOR FULBRIGHT: Your continuing service to higher education in the United States is demonstrated once again by the soundness of your proposed bill to amend the College Housing Act of 1950. I know I am speaking not only for myself but for the members of the Ohio College Association and also for the accredited colleges and universities of Ohio when I express my appreciation for the splendid leadership you are taking in matters of such vital importance to the institutions of higher education. sincerely hope that your bill may be favorably passed by the Congress. Sincerely yours, RALPH W. MCDONALD, Chairman, Committee on Educational Legislation, I Ohio College Association. UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA, Re College Housing Amendments of 1955 (S. 1744) Senate Office Building, Washington 25, D. C. DEAR SENATOR FULBRIGHT: As one who is very familiar with the financial problems of universities and colleges throughout our country, I write you urging favorable consideration of a bill introduced by Senator Fulbright, i. e., College Housing Amendments of 1955 (S. 1744). There is no doubt in my mind that if financial assistance, such as proposed in the above bill, is not forthcoming, colleges and universities of this country will be completely incapable of providing the necessary facilities for students who wish to obtain a college education during the next 15 years. The only alternative is for these eleemosynary institutions to increase their charges to students to such a point that a large majority of them would not be financially able to obtain this education. It is a most serious and pressing problem and it is definitely known that, as a result of the actual number of children now in elementary and high schools, the increase in demands upon institutions for teaching of higher education will become a material fact as these children reach college age. These institutions are doing everything in their power to operate economically and to raise funds from private benefactors and industry; however, such additional funds will be but a small portion of those required. I sincerely hope you will do everything possible to assist in the passage of the above mentioned bill. Sincerely, HENRY R. PEMBERTON, Housing for elderly and single persons Hen. John J. Sparkman, OLD AGE ASSISTANCE UNION OF ILLINOIS, Chairman, Housing Subcommittee of the Senate Banking and Currency Committee, Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. DEAR MR. SPARKMAN: It is impossible for the Old Age Assistance Union of Illinois to have a representative appear before your subcommittee in its hearings on the general question of housing and on the various bills which have been introduced relating to housing. Our union and its membership and the elderly people who have limited incomes are most decidedly interested in public housing; its increase and also in there being some adaptation in some of such housing to meet the requirements of elderly people. Consequently, we are submitting a statement, together with this letter, and ask that the statement be made a part of the record and proceedings to your committee. Respectfully yours, WARREN LAMSON, President. STATEMENT OF THE OLD AGE ASSISTANCE UNION OF ILLINOIS The need for more low-cost housing is evident every time one of our elderly persons must move regardless of whether it is merely a sleeping room or a flat or building that is desired. Movability is so restricted that it is extremely difficult for elderly persons with limited incomes-whether dependent upon public assistance, old-age survivors insurance benefits, or other forms of pensions, savings, etc., find it hard to secure clean, comfortable, decent living quarters. It is indeed partly a result of this difficulty that every fire in the firetraps of slum areas of Chicago and other big cities burns up a large number of elderly single men; for even public low-cost housing, at this time makes no provision for single persons. It might be well to note that in the latter days of life many old men and women have lost their spouses and so are single. It is said that about 25 percent of the inmates of the Nation's mental institutions are elderly persons who are there solely because they are old. In Iillinois we know this to be true. Our union has attended commitment proceedings; in some cases the persons were committed with the understanding that they would be immediately released as soon as living quarters were found for them. We have not examined all of the bills which will be before your subcommittee, but we have examined H.R. 3919, introduced by Barratt O'Hara in the House of Representatives. We feel that this is a good bill in that it provides for adaptation to meet the particular requirements of elderly and infirm people, in the amount of 250,000 housing units in the next 5 years. Very likely there is a companion bill before you that has been introduced in the Senate. We believe that some such provision should be made and our elderly people of small income should not just be pushed-by circumstances-into housing not wanted by others-which in most cases costs very much for the poorest accommodations. May we also add that there is needed something in the nature of Government and State operated nursing and convalescent homes. At present there is no such thing as a home for aged who are infirm, in need of special care etc., except those operating for profit-which are anything but desirable, and those operated by religious or notional societies which in most cases require payments which hundreds of thousands are not able to make. The above item may not fall within the jurisdiction of your subcommittee but is nevertheless a burning need. Respectfully yours, WARREN LAMSON. Housing for elderly and single persons STATEMENT OF MRS. JENCY PRICE HOUSER, NATIONAL ORGANIZER, HOUSING FOR SINGLE PERSONS Mr. Chairman, my name is Jency Price Houser, national organizer and spokesman for the Cause of Housing Designed for Permanent Occupancy by Single Persons, including Residence-at-Ease Association, and its technical advisory staff. During the past 8 years we have been active in the development of a mutual self-help housing program on a national basis for the purpose of obtaining housing designed for permanent occupancy by single persons. Now, we have come back to Congress for special assistance and guidance after having initiated and sponsored in 1950 the passage of paragraph (g) of section 213 of the 1950 act and after having presented a statement to you on March 16, 1954, which was published in the 1954 records of both the Senate and House of Representatives. Our plan is not to have assistance doled out but to enable single persons to provide for their own housing needs in a way that would allow them to live on a more practical and harmonious basis. The single persons we represent are not asking for charity, but a chance-an opportunity to help themselves. We wish to support the housing bills of 1955, which are S. 1800 and H. R. 5827 and request that paragraph (g) of section 213 of the National Housing Act of 1950 be set apart and expanded so as to occupy its own natural place in the Housing Act, and that Congress encourage, recognize, aid, and protect this program by establishing a special national revolving loan fund. The National Housing Act supports construction of homes for families and apartment houses large enough for family units, but there has been very little provision made for the single person. There is a definite need for housing for people who want neither the high cost of living in a hotel nor the excess space of the normal unfurnished apartment. The single persons we represent are willing to help themselves if they just get a little assistance from the Congress. Because of the newness of our program and because the single persons we represent are mostly women, many of them beyond 50 years of age, financiers hesitate to support it, and therefore, the single persons themselves are afraid to advance capital. We hold that Congress should therefore encourage this program through a special revolving loan trust. The granting of a trust loan would endorse the merit of our program and thereby open the way for the investment of private capital through the same type of guarantee as has been so successfully used in the mortgage-insurance system of the Federal Housing Administration. The trust should also be so designed as to make this program self-sustaining, with (a) adequate protection to the Government by a specific insurance fund reserve, and (b) by additional protection against possible losses, in the form of a cushion of private capital supplied by the borrowers themselves through the purchase of units in the trust. The Government should take such action as would encourage private individuals to lend the initial capital of up to $10 million necessary for a start. Should the money be loaned by the Government, it could be retired, dollar for dollar, as additional private share capital was paid in. (This private share capital could be supplied by single persons, as well as other lenders, including States or municipalities.) So far as we know, ours is the only organization devoting itself to the program called for in paragraph (g) of section 213 of the National Housing Act of 1950, and we have been making strenuous efforts against heavy odds for the past 8 years to carry forward with this program which is so much needed by so many persons. Single business, professional and retired women want and need some type of rental housing-similar to the Young Women's Christian Association, whereby properties are held in trust by trustees. These women should not be expected to become financial experts in order that they may have a permanent place to reside. Yet, they are practically forced by the very nature of the housing laws today either to become financial wizards or to give up any hope of obtaining accommodation other than what they would not choose except under stress of circumstances. The citizens for whom we are working are past college age where they might have time to specialize in the financial field. Many are women who have majored |