La Raza Study Warns of Housing ‘Crisis’

Latinos are far more likely than non-Latinos to live in substandard, overcrowded housing and much less likely to own their own homes, according to a study released Thursday. The report warns that the problem is approaching “crisis proportions.”

The study, issued by the National Council of La Raza, charges that “only a small fraction” of Latinos needing housing assistance are receiving it and that blacks get better access to public housing than Latinos, even though the two groups have similarly high rates of poverty.

The 73-page study, “The Hispanic Housing Crisis,” said that 17% of Latino homes are classified by the Housing and Urban Development Department as having physical problems, while 7% of non-Latino homes are substandard.

Forty-three percent of Latino homes are owned by them, the survey said, compared with 65% of the general population, adding that while 35% of all U.S. homes are rented, 57% of Latino homes are rented.

Sense of Self-Worth

Raul Yzaguirre, president of the council--which promotes civil rights for Latinos--told a news conference that the low level of home ownership is troubling because it “begins to define so much of your self-worth” and contributes to other people’s unfavorable views of Latinos.

The La Raza report urged Congress to enact “a series of demonstration programs” that would help low-income families buy homes. Among the recommendations are limited equity cooperatives, equity-sharing arrangements and lease-purchase plans.

Criticizing Reagan Administration policies, the report said that since 1981 funds for additional publicly assisted rental housing have been cut from $30 billion to the $7.8 billion appropriated in fiscal 1987.

“Hispanics are disproportionately affected by the crisis in rental housing,” said Yzaguirre. “As more low-income housing is converted to luxury apartments and condominiums, Hispanics are likely to be overrepresented among the displaced.”

Funds Disparity

Signaling the issue’s importance in the fall elections, Rep. Robert Garcia (D-N.Y.) said: “We want to make it clear to both parties” that housing should be a major focus of the next Administration.

The study cited a disparity in the way housing funds are distributed to minorities, saying that “black renters were somewhat better served” than are Latinos. Among poor renters 39% of blacks were able to secure subsidized housing, the report said, compared with only 22% of Latinos and 23% of whites who are poor.

Yzaguirre said that the disparity stems from several factors, including the government’s emphasis on setting aside housing for the elderly. That works against Latinos, he said, because the population tends to be younger. Similarly, he said, most public housing consists of two- and three-bedroom units, while “Hispanics have larger families,” because they have more children and because they often shelter extended families under one roof, thus necessitating large homes.

Addressing the fair housing bill passed in the House Wednesday and pending in the Senate, the report notes that the legislation does nothing to correct the pervasive problem of Latinos’ failure to file discrimination complaints because they may not understand their rights or because they do not believe that they will receive a fair hearing.

The report calls for tough laws that strengthen Latinos’ access to fair housing, a tripling of subsidized housing, greater protection of residents displaced by urban renewal and “major outreach programs” that include bilingual materials and staff.