More than 700 municipalities in the United States are engaged in urban renewal. Each participating city or town, in order to obtain federal funds to assist in this endeavor, must have a program for improving the quality of housing and a housing code establishing standards for the use, occupancy, and maintenance of existing housing. These are public health responsibilities. Prior to the Housing Act of 1964, P.L. 88-560, these activities were financed entirely from local funds. Section 301 of the new law also provides financial assistance for housing code enforcement in special Urban Renewal Areas. Title VIII—Training and Fellowship Program, Section 801, provides for matching grants to states "to assist in supporting state and local research that is needed in connection with housing programs and needs, public improvement programs, code problems, [and] efficient land use. . . ." This act clearly indicates that the Congress realizes the need for preventive measures in housing.
The American Public Health Association urges the Public Health Service to develop without delay an effective program of providing technical assistance to, and training of, personnel of state and local health agencies and other governmental agencies concerned with the public health aspects of housing.
