HOUSING

POLICY

LULAC is unalterably opposed to racial discrimination in any form in Housing based on race, color or national origin.

Racial Housing issues with which we must deal often make the going rough. As a volunteer organization, we must be able to diagnose the ills of a community, coalesce with other minority organizations, devise a plan, select alternative solutions and follow through toward a defined goal.

LULAC's housing policy will not remain stagnant. It will continually evolve though our principles will remain fairly constant. Policy is determined by the Annual Convention, ratified by the National Board of Directors, and implemented by the National Housing Committee, Regional Vice Presidents/State Offices and local councils.

A. The National Office will:

1) Assist Councils, State and Regional Offices with particular problems in accordance with availability of technical resources;
2) Help design programs;
3) Plan housing conferences and/or work shops;
4) Bring a professional approach to highly complex issues;
5) Help organize a plan of attack; and,
6) Interpret policy.

B. Council Housing Committee

1. Duties:

The duties of the Housing Committee shall be to:
• Study housing conditions in the local community
• Receive and seek to resolve complaints of discrimination;
• Oppose all restrictive practices, public and/or private, that may affect Hispanics; and,
• Disseminate information and render such other assistance which may eliminate discrimination in Housing.

2. Committee Appointments:

a) In selecting the Committee, the Council President and Housing Chairman should choose persons on the basis of the housing program of the Council and the expertise needed to do the job. Do not hesitate to look beyond the Council's present members. This could be a source of new members and supporters of LULAC.
b) Try to secure a balance between professionals and community residents on the Committee. Do not overlook real estate firms, human relations agencies, planning bodies, public housing and redevelopment agencies, bankers, builders, etc.  Community residents might include tenants, home owners, church leaders, neighborhood business owners and leaders of other community organizations.
c) The financial, professional and political resources of the majority community can become an asset to your Committee. Be sure that the persons appointed are made familiar with Council policies and are willing to support them.

3) Committee structures.

The Council President, with approval of the Executive Committee will appoint the Chairman of the Housing Committee. All members of the Committee shall be appointed by the President of the Council in consultation with the Chairman:

a) It is recommended that at least three members be appointed to the Committee.
b) In some small communities, small subcommittees may be needed to give special attention to:
• Public Housing and Tenants;
• Community Development Programs;
• Lending Policies and Practices;
• Planning & Zoning Boards; and,
• Housing Discrimination (Sales, Rental, Marketing, Fair Housing Laws).
c) Councils located in very large cities should expect to encounter the more sophisticated and complex programs in housing and community development. These programs will require con stant monitoring by specialized sub-committees.
d) A Committee member should be appointed as Secretary to keep records, inform members of meetings, prepare correspondence for the Committee and reports for the Chairman. In some cases, the Council Secretary will perform these services for the Housing Committee.
e) The Housing Committee should make a monthly report to the Executive Committee. The report should cover current activities, programs planned, and requests to the Council to initiate programs requiring their approval. Copies of annual and special reports should also be sent to the National Office.

4. Committee Activities:

a) Sponsor a neighborhood or citywide housing conference or work shop. Invite federal, state and local housing officials to speak. Focus on local conditions such as substandard housing, discrimination, tenant problems, etc. The National LULAC Civil Rights Committee through the National, Regional and State Offices will help you with programs and speakers.
b) Stock and review materials from U.S. Housing and Urban Development; study and publicize minority organizations' housing resolutions; have members become acquainted with new programs and brief the Councils.
c) Establish a procedure to receive and process complaints in all areas of housing. Inform residents of this service. Follow through on all complaints.
d) Initiate affirmative action programs; survey areas of need. Look around to see what problems there are. Establish a speakers bureau. Seek invitations from both Hispanic and white groups, especially churches, to discuss housing issues.
e) Invite local housing officials and industry leaders to speak to your Committee and/or Council. Keep your meetings courteous and cordial. Pick their brains. Develop supporters of your program.
f) Plan weekend visits to suburban areas, new projects and model homes. Tour slum areas and talk to residents; hear the problems. Invite them to join the Committee and work for better housing.
g) Visit your city and regional planning agencies. Insist upon minority appointments to their boards and staff. Have them explain their housing plans for the area, especially the dispersal of low income housing. Press for Housing Advisory Committees and Equal Opportunity Plans.
h) Schedule visits to HUD/FHA and Farmers Home Officials. Secure their literature and distribute to residents.
i) To combat discriminatory acts, recruit testers to check the practices of owners and landlords.
j) Where necessary to end racial injustices and where all other efforts have been exhausted, the Council should support direct action efforts such sit-ins, rent strikes, and peaceful demonstrations. It should pack meetings and hold press conferences.

5). Program Recommendations and/or Suggestions:

LULAC is a membership organization composed of volunteers. Our strength lies in the dedicated, voluntary service of our members. Councils are not expected to possess the professional expertise. The National Civil Rights Committee will provide program and technical assistance, help in preparing complaints, advice on monitoring programs and resolving difficult issues. Councils are encouraged to consider programs which may be carried out with volunteers and within their financial resources. The National LULAC Civil Rights Committee will assist you in designing special programs to fit the needs of your community and the capabilities of local chapters. There are basic programs which any Council may engage in. Some of these are described below. You may want to use these ideas and initiate your own program, or write HUD for information and materials.

a) Monitoring:
Each Council is encouraged to be a "watchdog" over local housing programs to assure that they are operated without discrimination. A planned program to monitor activities, evaluate their effectiveness and to keep your Council and community informed fulfills a basic need. Monitoring activities should include: sales and rental practices of brokers and builders, lending policies of banks and savings and loans, relocation and code enforcement programs. Compliance with Affirmative Action Programs and equal opportunity regulations must be more than "paper" commitments. Appoint subcommittees to investigate, make reports and recommend follow-up action where noncompliance or racial injustice exists.

b) Housing Information:
Conduct a series of neighborhood clinics. Invite free speakers to discuss tenants' rights, relocation benefits, rehabilitation programs, home-buying techniques, financing, legal information, etc.