WHEREAS:

The private sector has completely failed to provide affordable, adequate, safe and sanitary housing for all Americans, particularly minorities, women and low- and moderate-income Americans; and

WHEREAS:

Existing federal legislation has proven to be totally inadequate in dealing with the housing problem; and

WHEREAS:

The Reagan-Bush Administrations' philosophy of privatization and "getting government off our backs" has drastically reduced even the present meager federal resources allocated for housing; and

WHEREAS:

Current state and local legislation is not only inadequate but unable both financially and institutionally to deal with the scale of the housing problem; and

WHEREAS:

Non-profit and community-based housing development corporations, however well meaning and successful they may be on a very small scale, do not have the resources to effectively deal with the scale and scope of the national housing problem; and

WHEREAS:

The cost for the construction, rehabilitation, purchase and rental of decent, safe and sanitary dwelling units has increased to the point of virtually putting such housing beyond the reach of working and low-income people today; and

WHEREAS:

One of the tragic results of the above is the drastic rise in the number of homeless individuals and families; and

WHEREAS:

The anarchy of inadequately planned and funded housing programs on the federal, state and local levels and in the private sector, and the dramatically increasing cost of producing any housing has led to a nation-wide housing crisis particularly for minorities, women and low-income Americans; and

WHEREAS:

The only way to effectively deal with this housing crisis is through a massive and comprehensive federally planned and funded national housing program; and

WHEREAS:

One of the proposed solutions to this housing crisis by both conservatives and liberals alike is to privatize the functions of providing affordable housing either to the for-profit sector or to non-profit and community-based housing development corporations, all of which threatens public housing and redevelopment agency employee and Union jobs;

WHEREAS:

The October 7, 1989 Housing Now! March and Rally has demonstrated that a broad coalition of labor, community, homeless, religious and student organizations is ready to mobilize and work to end the national housing crisis.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

That in formulating legislative, and other policies concerning the housing crisis, including those dealing with housing authorities and housing development corporations, the International Union shall continue to consult with affiliates that represent members affected by such policies.

SUBMITTED BY:

Jeffrey L. Brown, President
Jean Martin, Recording Secretary
AFSCME Local 1971, Council 33
Philadelphia, PA