Plans are being made to conduct similar classes with other groups in the same housing unit.

2. In the Craven Terrace housing projects of New Bern (Craven County), a series of money management lessons was conducted with 17 homemakers-all welfare recipients. Not only has the homemakers' interest in this subject been maintained, but it has spread to include assistance in other areas of family living.

Other counties reporting similar work (on living on a limited budget) with indigent families include New Hanover, Orange, Rowan, Mecklenburg, and Forsyth.

3. Nash County home agent has given educational assistance to food stamp recipients living in as well as out of public housing units. 4. A large number of county home agents have rendered educational assistance to recipients of Government donated foods. This includes families living in as well as those living outside public housing units.

5. In the Morning Side housing project in Greensboro (Guilford County), a series of nutrition lessons was conducted with 20 youngmarried homemakers.

Ohio

Working with directors, supervisors, and residents of public housing units or projects is a relatively new project. Housing personnel in both Hamilton and Butler Counties are very much interested in bringing home economics information to families living in public housing units. As a beginning, home agents in both counties arranged demonstrations on the use of surplus commodities.

Both agents have since been requested to develop an educational program for these families. Housing directors believe that money management is a major problem. Families need help with consumer buying problems and use of credit, and need to gain some understanding of how to use their income. This will move slowly to assure the development of a sound, workable program.

Pennsylvania

Fayette County (Uniontown): The home agent gave five food demonstrations related to the food stamp plan in each of eight housing developments. They were not too well attended nor were other parts of the planned program. Seven growing 4-H Clubs are reported in the eight housing areas.

The Philadelphia Housing Authority asked the extension home. economist to help decorate model apartments in two city housing units. She made and carried out one plan with leaders in her county.

She reports that people who are forced out of their homes by slum rehabilitation or for highways and public works often need help in adjusting themselves to new quarters. The change of domicile is likely to be a personal tragedy, for the displaced people may be elderly or poorer than their city's average, and they may have lived in their old homes a long time. One reason their homes were dilapidated may be that the residents lacked the knowledge or ideas to reclaim them. As the new homes are built, model or sample apartments are furnished by local furniture stores. However, these often show an unrealistic estimate of the money and mobility these displaced people have. Many of the tenants are poor and cannot afford new furniture. They need knowledge and more money to keep up an apartment.

A "sample apartment" was needed with simple furnishings a family of four with limited income might have, supplemented by purchase of other used furniture, to show that an attractive, comfortable home is possible on limited means.

The Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority contacted the home economics extension service in Philadelphia early in May. It seemed like an excellent opportunity for extension to work on a result demonstration with some homemakers and a number of agencies. It also posed a real challenge to the home economist-to see how little money could do this job.

The job could not be tackled by the home economist herselfespecially since forty-nine 4-H Clubs were being organized for their summer programs. The only other solution was a committee. Much thought went into choosing the committee. It was important that the persons be sympathetic to the cause; that they have some flair for interior decorating; and most important, that they have the time to spend looking for furniture and working on the project. Four homemakers were selected. Two were wives of attorneys. The redevelopment's educatioal program head was the fifth member.

The apartment selected was in a building over 80 years old. The former occupants had a tailoring business on the ground floor with their residence behind the store and on the second floor. The third floor had been made into an apartment for additional income. It consisted of two bedrooms, living room, bath, dining room, and kitchen. During their first visit in May, the committee measured the various rooms and made floor plans, indicating windows, wall projections, etc. The redevelopment division representative agreed that a maximum of $500 would be allowed, that extension would make the plans, advise and supervise the project, and that the redevelopment authority would seek the help of other agencies to do the actual work.

Following the visit, the extension committee met. A general color scheme was agreed upon. Each committee member was to work out a furniture plan and more definite color scheme. At another meeting a week later, the room plans were compared and discussed. A final plan was drawn up using the best ideas from the plans submitted. Next, the used furniture outlets were combed-Who-So-Ever Gospel Mission, Goodwill Industries, and Salvation Army. With five people looking all over the city, almost all the furniture needed was found in 2 weeks. At another committee meeting-this time giving actual costs per room-the "go ahead" signal to buy the furniture was given by the redevelopment authority. (In the meantime, some of it had been sold.)

The apartment was planned to show:

Different ways furniture can be refinished,
Correct furniture arrangement.

Easy-to-care-for furniture.

Good use of color.

Different window treatments for various effects.

Use of accessories.

Some simplified storage devices.

A variety of inexpensive yet practical floor coverings.

That with a little imagination and effort, you can have an attractive place, even on a minimum budget.

It was agreed that the apartment be made as attractive as possible, at minimum expense. Hopes were that it would stimulate some action by the people of the community to improve their homes and general living conditions.

The first job was painting walls. High school volunteers of the American Friends' Service Work Committee did this on weekends in June and early July. Next came the furniture. The plan had been to show a number of ways old furniture could be refinished. Paint was finally used since none of the furniture was good enough to be finished in natural wood. In addition, "community" people would probably not have the interest, patience, or incentive to do difficult refinishing.

Volunteer help (this time, college students from the Friends' Service Committee, plus students from the Institute of Vocational Training) painted the furniture. In the meantime, other items needed to furnish the apartment were being gathered-rugs from basements of department stores and 5 and 10's; accessories from used furniture outlets; fabrics from mail order houses, 5 and 10's, and so forth. (The committee at this point consisted of the extension home economistall of the other members were busy either vacationing with their families or conducting 4-H Club meetings.)

By August 15, real progress had been made, thanks to the combined efforts of all the agency volunteers. The completion date was set for September 15, allowing a 10-day break for some final 4-H Club work.

The final touches were put on in short order by a group of seven volunteer extension leaders-slipcovers were cut, fitted, and sewn for the living room; two pairs of curtains were made and hung; and a number of pictures were matted, framed, and hung in place. The total cost came to less than $300 for paint, furniture, curtains, and accessories for two bedrooms, living room, dining room, kitchen, and bath. More than just a financial accomplishment, this project had real educational value to all who worked on it. It also showed that many agencies can work together for a common cause to benefit other people of different races and background,

Since the completion of the apartment project, a number of other agencies have called the extension office for "apartment" help-the Philadelphia Housing Authority, which has three large projects nearing completion, will have at least two sample apartments in each; the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico would like help in the Puerto Rican section. Calls have also come from the department of licenses and a settlement house in another area of the city that is being redeveloped. If there is another "apartment" project, it will be handled differently an attempt will be made to work first with a committee of people representing the community in hopes that they will make some of the plans and later help execute them.

South Dakota

Low-cost housing projects for six Indian reservations in South Dakota are being encouraged as a result of surveys made of existing family housing conditions. The housing program on Pine Ridge Reservation is an example of community resource development in 1962. From the OEDP submitted by the Nekota Redevelopment Commission, funds were made available to construct 150 housing units. Con

struction work was started on 50 in early spring of 1962. enclosed and 9 were occupied by the end of the year. result, about 60 Indian workers were provided with an months' gainful employment.

All 50 were As a direct average of 6

The home demonstration agent at Pine Ridge worked closely with the first 20 families selected to occupy the first new homes. She helped the local housing authority develop application forms to aid in making selections. Each applicant family was visited to verify their need for housing and to determine their immediate needs if selected.

This resulted in several meetings and workshops to help them prepare for their move. Family living records of income and expenditures were initiated. Home management specialists and family relations specialists were involved in educational meetings to prepare the families for new community living experiences. Furniture renovation workshops were conducted and over 60 pieces of essential furniture were reconstructed and recovered by the first 10 families. Used furniture was purchased in quantity from local dealers and all refinishing materials were purchased through local suppliers and paid for by the individual families.

As a result of the meetings and workshops held, the home agent

wrote:

These families have learned to know each other and discuss problems more freely with us and each other. They have begun to feel like neighbors before moving in and I feel this is the most important feature of our family preparation program.

Tennessee

In Knoxville a series of three meetings each for Negro and white. groups is planned. At present they are trying to work out something in housing projects in other large cities.

Texas

Houston: Early in 1962 the Extension Service home economists in cooperation with church, civic, and housing unit representatives planned and carried out a pilot project in the San Felipe Courts in Houston. A series of five meetings was conducted on the nutritional value and use of donated foods. Interest increased as the course progressed and as information about the classes spread. Fifty-five women completed the course.

Following the report of cooperative work done by the Texas Agricultural Extension Service with the San Felipe Courts public housing project at Houston, a conference of the home economics extension State leaders was arranged with the communities facilities officer of the Fort Worth regional office of the Public Housing Administration, Housing and Home Finance Agency. A list of housing authorities in Texas was supplied.

The agricultural and home economics State agent grouped the housing authorities by districts and supplied copies to district agents and the home economics specialist. The list included the cities, names, and addresses of executive directors, the number of units in the development, the units in management, and those having community space. In the letter sent to district agents the responsibilities of the executive director were set first. It was suggested that he serve as a member of the county program building committee or as a resource person to

that committee to represent the interests of low-income families so their needs might be included in program plans in the county.

In the conference with the facilities officer, it was agreed that the Extension Service and the Housing Authority of the Public Housing Administration could cooperate in:

1. Facility planning:

A. Community space-a meeting room for teaching and demonstrations.

B. Design and social aspects of the units-county extension agents might serve as consultants to the local authority and the architect in planning units and community space for meeting.

2. Social planning for residents:

A. Training in the use and care of equipment, floor care, methods of housekeeping, and insect control.

B. Developing family living programs-donated foods; economy foods and meals; spending the food dollar; clothing-buying, construction, care, and grooming; recreation; and money management.

The regional office of the Public Housing Administration advised its executive directors of the plans for cooperation. As a result, a number of requests for assistance have been received by the agents and district agent from counties without county home demonstration agents.

Arrangements were made for the facilities officer to participate in the program at the March home demonstration staff conference. She met the district agents as well as home economics specialists and had conferences with several of the district agents. District agents and specialists have been invited to participate in workshops scheduled by the Public Housing Administration for their personnel. Several attended such a workshop in Fort Worth on April 22.

District agents have followed through with county extension agents on the housing authorities in their counties as suggested. As county programs are developed and plans of work made for 1964, much cooperation is anticipated to meet the needs of this group of residents in the housing authorities. Resource persons are available to assist with the programs. To date, county home demonstration agents have attempted to meet requests as they are received through a leader training program. District agents have attempted to help executive directors identify and utilize local resource persons where no county home demonstration agent is available, as in Maverick and Robertson Counties.

A district agent and the housing and home furnishings specialist. will cooperate with the Dallas Housing Authority in developing cooperative plans for the program.

Wisconsin

Hillside housing project is located in the central section of the city of Milwaukee and houses 636 families. Of these families, 90 percent are Negro, 54 percent receive some form of public assistance. The morale is very low. Attempts by the Milwaukee Recreation Department to provide programs for residents have made little progress.