The Independent-News, Volume 102, Number 39, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 3 March 1977 — Page 8

MARCH 3, 1977 THE INDEPENDENT-NEWS

Rand Study Os Housing Program Is the federalh funded experimental housing allowance program in St Joseph counts attracting renters away from public housing, which is also a federally-funded program? In the first 15 months that the allowance program enrolled renters, which was up to last June, only 2b tenants of the South Bend Housing Authorits (SBHA) and 92 on its waiting lists switched os er. I hat was the report tonight of Fcbruars 23 of Rand Corporation researchers to the SBHA at its meeting in South Bend The SBHA had requested the study The 2b tenants who switched arc less than 3 per cent of all SBHA renters and less than 2 per cent of all renters who ha\c participated in the allowance program, the Rand study says. And those who moved tended not to be among the higher rent-paying tenants —a category SBHA has been trying to reach under efforts by the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to make public housing cover more of its costs. But what about the future? If public housing and allowance programs move ahead in meeting the need for housing here, the number of eligible families still not receiving asssistance may decrease to a point where the program could possibly be in competition for those remaining. About 2.(XX) families who rent in St. Joseph County were eligible for housing assistance at the end of last year but were not participating in either program, the study disclosed . "Clearly." the Rand study says, “if a large fraction of these 2.000 prefer housing allowances to public housing, the SBHA mas encounter vacancies due to the shortage of applicants ...” But in the 15 months on which the study was based, the researchers found the programs had “been largely complementary rather than competitive." citing these statistics: Os the estimated 5.700 renting families in the county who were eligible for housing assistance at the time the housing allowance program was begun, public housing and other programs were serving about 34 per cent. In IS months the allowance program closed a substantial portion of the gap bv assisting I.bSO renter families — 29 per cent of the eligiblcs — indicating the county's housing needs are much nearer being met with the programs working together. we arc concerned about the peaceful coexistence of the public housing and housing allowance programs in St Joseph County, the report says The SBHA Board of Commissioners, through Kent Wilcux, its director, asked for the study when it became concerned over a rising vacancy rate in public housing, the effect of tighter standards set bv HUD for operating subsidies, and possible competition with the allowance program Because of uncertainty over the extent of future competition between the two programs, the report recommends that their interactions continue to be monitored. And it urges the housing allowance office provides its applicants with information about the alternative advantages of public housing Further, the study recommends that HUD reconsider a policy that creates financial strains on the SBHA — the one which encourages local housing authorities like SBHA to give preference to higher income tenants nearer the eligibility border hne. The study notes that the search

for such tenants probably will “at best be mildly successful." The researchers point out that those near the income limit for public housing “pay nearly as much as thev would for comparable housing in the private market." Vacancies in the Section 10 program rose from a monthly average of 3 6 per cent in 19’4 to 5 per cent in 19’5 and to 7.1 per cent for the first quarter of 197 b, the Rand studv shows. Ihat increase in vacancies and the consequent loss of rental revenue to the SBHA is attributed “not to unusual turnover of tenants (about 2 per cent monthly). but to a sharp increase in the average duration of vacancies." Bv early 19^6. Section 10 vacancies were typically lasting four to six months at a time when SBHA waiting lists included 81 elderly and 406 nonclderly applicants —a finding that led the researchers to suggest that the SBHA look into “ways to reduce the time now required to prepare vacant units for reoccupancy." Yet the researchers also found that SBHA dwellings "arc typically in better condition than private rental housing occupied by low-in-come families and in some respects arc better than all rental housing" in the area. The researchers said they assume "that most of those households on the SBHA waiting lists would still be interested in publichousing if it were available.” While advertising and other "outreach" activities have effectively informed the public about the housing allowance program, the report questions whether advertising would be of similar help to the SBHA in its special effort to recruit higher-income tenants. The report suggests, however, that advertising might be tried experimentally if the SBHA believes it would be effective. Authors of the Rand study are Lawrence W. Kozimor and Ira S. Lowry. Lowry designed the allowance experiment under way here PROPERTY TAX REPLACEMENT FUNDS DISTRIBUTED Checks for $20.4 million were distributed to the 92 Indiana county treasurers as a partial payment from the state Property Tax Replacement Fund according to a release received by our office from the Department of Revenue. The checks represent an advancement of an estimated $135.9 million which is to be distributed to the counties from the fund by May I. The Property Tax Replacement Fund Board again this year voted to make two early, partial payments of the Spring distribution from the fund in order to help those counties faced with the prospect of borrowing The second advancement will be made the last part of March. St. Joseph County will receive $918,257.85; Starke $59,748.98; La Porte. $482,049.90 and Marshall. $124,597.73. under the 1973 Property Tax Replacement Program. 20 per cent of each county’s tax levy will be paid from the state Property Tax Replacement Fund, which means that 20 per cent of each taxpayers pro perty tax bills is paid from the state fund. BOWLING NEWS Sebarban l<agi»r Dad A Lad's 21 II Pizza Place 21 II Jim's Head Shop 19 13 Baker's Standard 16 16 Johnson's Insurance 14 18 Precision Pallet 13 19 Dave A Ray’s 12 20 Mercer's Bever House 12 20 High team senes: Jim's Head Shop 2472. Dad A Ud’s 2432.

Johnson’s Insurance 2417. High team game: Jim's Head Shop 866. 847. Dad A Lad's 840. High individual scries handicap: Jerrv Scott 663. Francis McMahon 662. Walt Calhoun 659. High individual game handicap: Danny Barden 259. Jerry Scott 253, Herb Klceberg 249. Friday Morning Coffee league Stunt/Pine Forest 17'/i 6'6 C ollins Construction 16 8 Pizza Bowl Lancs 15 9 Avon 12 12 Koontz Lake Hardware 10'/j 13'/i Truckstops of America 10 14 Tri-Chern 9 15 The Inn 6 18 High team senes: Stuntz Pine Forest 1629. Collins Construction 1572. Tri-Chem 1527. High team game: Stuntz. Pine Forest 589, Colling Construction 544. The Inn 543. High individual series: Donna Wood 479. Brenda Halter 460, Sue Kring 418; honorable mention Phyllis Graves 128, Karlenc Zick 145. High individual game: Donna W<x>d 197. Sue Kring 171. Kathy Elbert 167; honorable mention Eleanor Knight 412. Marv Paschen 409. Walkerton Kings A Queens Lucky Strikes 24'/i 11 */» Jokers 23 13 Alley Cats 19 17 Twinkle Toes 17 19 Farmers 17 19 Hot Shots 15 21 Impossibles 14‘/i 21'/» Lucky Four 14 22 High team scries: Jokers 1983, Lucky Strikes 1957, Twinkle Toes 1867. High team game: Jokers 732. Lucky Strikes 681. Jokers 667. High men’s series: Fred Stratton 564. Dick Eby 552. Rick Eby 527. High Men's game: Fred Stratton 214. Rick Eby 202. Dick Eby 196. High women’s series: Ruby Stratton 521. Joyce Roth 465,

OUK H ® Sl ^ STATE UmUSIUSI beneath us INDIANA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES th I !'■ w/ ’ J-

PIONEER BRICKMAKING IN INDIANA Most of the brick made in Indiana until the late 1800's was shaped by the "softmud" process, in which molds holding one, two, or three bricks were filled with a wet mixture of sandy clay and then turned out to dry in the sun and air until they were sufficiently firm to be fired in a kiln that burned cordwocxl or coal. Clays suited to this simple process are obtainable al many localities within the state. When brick was burned at the construction site, the shapes were formed

Louise Whitmer 463. High women’s game: Ruby 213, Joyce Roth 172, Rick Eby 169. INHERITANCE BILL APPROVED BY SENATE Senator V. Richard Miller (RPlymouth) announced last week end the passage of SB 551. which has become known as the Inheritance Tax Bill. It gained approval in the Senate by a vote of 49-0. Miller stated that, "Since the beginning of the session. I have singled out as prime importance revision of the Indiana inheritance tax. My efforts were made fact with the passage of SB 551 in the Senate.” In explaining the events surrounding the passage of the bill the Senator said. “Before the session. I had profiled a bill which would have given increased exemptions. However, so many other areas of our inheritance tax laws needed revision that we incorporated the ideas of many bills into SB 551.” Senator Miller is responsibilc for two specific areas of SB 551. “The first,” according to the Senator, "increases the exemption for a surviving spouse from $15,000 to SIOO,OOO. Another part of the bill which I had input upon would eliminate the requirement that tax returns have to be filed if exemtions exceed the fair market value of property to be transferred.” "Over the years." Senator Miller concluded, "the value of estates has soared unbelievably but estate taxes have remained the same. This bill, if final passage occurs will begin to bring the tax rate back in line with the rate of inflation." TWO DAY CONFERENCE SET A two-day conference for farm builders will be held March 16-17 at the Hilton Inn. West Lafayette. The conference, sponsored by the Purdue University Department of Agricultural Engineering and the National Frame Builders Association. will cover a variety of topics of interest to persons planning or constructing farm build-

and dried before the itinerant brick burner arrived to build and fill the kiln. By 1850, commercial brickyards appeared in many places, and in them a crew of workmen made and burned the brick used in the surrounding region. Much of Indiana’s 19th century architectural heritage is attributable to the early craftsman whose skill transformed the local clay into building material of enduring beauty.

ings. The morning session on the opening day. March 16. will be de voted to a discussion of solar energy and other energy related topics. On that afternoon, animal housing facilities and economic as pects of farm buildings w ill be dis cussed. Thursday, storage buildings, lighting of buildings, and the use of specialized construction materials will be covered. A mini-trade show and a banquet will be held at the close of the first day’s activities. Caesar salad is named, not for the Roman ruler, but for its creator, a Tijuana chef. Use The Classified Ads! ANBESOLKILLS MOUTH PAIN ON CONTACT Denture pain, toothache, cold sores, teething pain, relieved for hours. When minor mouth pa>n strikes use Anbesol the pain killer Anbesol with three anesthetics soothes irritated nerve endings deadens pain Helps prevent in lection too Use as directed tor hours ot relief Arthritis Sufferers: WAKE UP WITHOUT ALL THAT STIFFNESS! New formula for arthritis minor pain is so strong you can take it less often and still w >kc up in the morning without all the pain's stiffness Y ct so gentle you can take this tablet on an empty stomach It s called Arthritis Pain Formula Get hours of relief Ask for Arthritis Pain Formula by the makers of Anai in’ analtiesic tablets