DISCUSSING PUBLIC HOUSING AND PRIVATE INITIATIVE

The Cape Girardeau City Council recently tabled a proposal to appoint a five-member authority to proceed with public housing.

We're encouraged to see the council is in no hurry to jump on this creaking bandwagon. The city has had a housing authority ordinance on the books for 52 years, but no government-controlled public housing. Cape Girardeau voters have three times defeated referendums on the issue -- in 1970, 1968 and 1962.

Several council members expressed an interest in returning the matter to voters. It might be a reasonable way to gauge public support. If the city posed its question at an election already scheduled, the costs would be minimal. For example, the Cape Girardeau Public Schools are considering votes in June and November.

Several council members have also expressed concern that once a public housing authority is appointed, the council would lose its control. By law, the authority would operate independently of the city council.

We don't dispute some need for affordable housing. The flood last summer damaged more than 100 homes, and the bridge route also removed about 69 low-income houses.

But we must question the philosophy of public housing, which depends on government -- and ultimately taxpayers -- to subsidize the costs. How can we criticize a burgeoning federal deficit if we are always standing in line for the benefits? It's nothing short of hypocrisy.

After six months of research, the Housing Assistance Task Force concluded there is a need for 100-125 "scattered site" public housing units in Cape Girardeau. In a town of more than 35,000, that's certainly not an overwhelming number.

But in city after city, public housing is an endeavor that only creates more demand. If 100 units address the needs now, will it only generate a demand for more? Even the Chairman of the Housing Assistance Task Force, Bob Bohnsack, said that no matter how much the city builds, there will still be waiting lists.

We would much prefer private enterprise step in as opposed to government-run units.

Several low-income elderly housing projects have been built in Cape Girardeau by private contractors, and operate successfully.

The Community Sweat Equity Housing Corporation (CSEH) may be one of these private agencies that could make a difference in our community. The local not-for-profit organization was founded in June of 1993, and is making its presence known. It has purchased six housing units for low and median income, disabled and the elderly. All units are now occupied.

The group is working with local realtor Thomas M. Meyer, Mercantile Bank and Southeast Missouri Bank.

The group not only provides low-income housing, but promotes hands-on participation of the tenant in property maintenance. In this way, tenants build pride in the neighborhood as well as good basic credit and rental references. We applaud this group's efforts in tackling housing shortages through private enterprise.

In a small way, Habitat for Humanity is also doing its part to provide homes to low-income families. Volunteers have renovated two homes and built one from scratch in the last few years. They hope to build two more this year, and three in 1995. Habitat for Humanity stresses occupant participation to build pride in ownership. Families must put at least 350 hours of "sweat-equity" into their homes.

Private enterprise projects such as these may help chip away at the city's housing needs without adding to taxpayer burdens.