NotesFAQContact Us
Collection
Advanced
Search Tips
Back to results
ERIC Number: ED002538
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1958-Aug
Pages: 29
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
HOUSING FOR FLORIDA'S MIGRANTS, A SURVEY OF MIGRATORY FARM LABOR HOUSING IN DADE COUNTY.
MIRENGOFF, WILLIAM; SHOSTACK, ALBERT
AT THE PEAK OF THE 1955-56 WINTER SEASON, 1,300 FAMILIES AND 5,600 SINGLE MIGRANT WORKERS WERE LIVING IN DADE COUNTY'S URBAN AREAS AND 71 LABOR CAMPS. MOST LIVED IN OVERCROWDED QUARTERS, BUT THE UNITS WERE SOUNDLY CONSTRUCTED. WATER AND SEWAGE WERE ADEQUATE, BUT THERE WERE MANY STRUCTURAL DEFICIENCIES, INCLUDING LACK OF SCREENS AND LACK OF ADEQUATE BATHING, LAUNDRY, AND TOILET FACILITIES. NOT ENOUGH KITCHEN EQUIPMENT, BEDS, MATTRESSES, OR BLANKETS WERE PROVIDED. FIRE HAZARDS WERE NOTED IN 14 PERCENT OF THE CAMPS. FEW CAMPS PROVIDED HEALTH, RECREATION, CHILD CARE, OR RELIGIOUS FACILITIES. DESPITE MANY FLAWS, THE QUALITY OF MIGRATORY LABOR HOUSING HAD BEEN IMPROVED OVER THE YEARS. CAMPS ACCOMMODATING TEN OR MORE PEOPLE WERE REGULATED BY THE FLORIDA STATE SANITARY CODE, AND COUNTY HEALTH REGULATIONS SUPPLEMENTED THE CODE. THE DADE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT STARTED A 3-YEAR EDUCATION AND ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM IN 1953, CAMPS WERE INSPECTED AND VIOLATIONS WERE BROUGHT TO THE MANAGEMENT'S ATTENTION. IMPROVEMENT WAS ALSO FACILITATED BY PRESS PUBLICITY AND THE FLORIDA INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION'S POLICY OF FILLING JOB ORDERS ONLY IF HOUSING WAS SATISFACTORY. NOT ENOUGH NEW HOUSING WAS BUILT BECAUSE OF INCREASED CONSTRUCTION AND LAND COSTS, ZONING RESTRICTIONS, AND THE GROWERS' RELUCTANCE TO INVEST IN PERMANENT FACILITIES WHEN THEY DID NOT OWN THE FARMLANDS. RAPID TAX AMORTIZATION, LOW INTEREST LOANS, HOUSING OPERATED BY LOCAL PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITIES, LIBERAL ZONING, AND POOLING ARRANGEMENTS WERE SUGGESTED AS WAYS TO STIMULATE CONSTRUCTION. OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE SOLUTION OF HOUSING PROBLEMS WERE ENFORCEMENT AND REVIEW OF HEALTH AND BUILDING REGULATIONS, INITIATION OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS TO MAKE GROWERS AND WORKERS MORE AWARE OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES IN HOUSING MATTERS, AND PROVISION OF HEALTH, DAY CARE, RECREATION, AND RELIGIOUS SERVICES OR FACILITIES.
Publication Type: N/A
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: N/A
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: Department of Labor, Washington, DC.; Florida State Industrial Commission, Miami.
Identifiers - Location: Florida
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A