Support for: 
(1) housing for low-income households in Lawrence and Douglas County; 
(2) a representative Housing Authority to analyze low- and moderate-income housing needs and plans to meet them; 
(3) city conservation policies and housing rehabilitation assistance in older neighborhoods; 
(4) compulsory periodic inspection of all rental units; 
(5) a truly minimum housing code that is periodically reviewed; and 
(6) some method of inspection to insure that all residential properties, when ownership is transferred, are in conformance with the minimum housing code.

The League of Women Voters of Lawrence–Douglas County continues to support the development of housing in Lawrence and Douglas County of both privately and publicly financed units to meet the need of low-income groups. 
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We think that the Lawrence Housing Authority should have members who represent a wide variety of community viewpoints and should broaden the scope of its activities to analyze and meet as yet poorly identified public housing needs.  The League supports active tenants' associations in Lawrence. 
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Continued attention needs to be given to conservation, which includes maintenance of adequate services—sewers, streets, etc.—and to governmental assistance for housing rehabilitation within older neighborhoods in Lawrence. A minimum housing code is one tool to be used in conservation of such neighborhoods.  Inspection of rental units should be compulsory and repairs should be completed within specified realistic time limits.  Only if rehabilitation assistance is available, should repairs be required of owner-occupants who cannot afford them. A strong rehabilitation grants and loans program should be available for those in need. 
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The minimum housing code should contain only those standards required for health and safety, to prevent irreversible deterioration, and to protect against neighborhood blight.  The code should be applied to houses when they change ownership, with a written contract between buyer and seller covering who will do the repairs and within what time limits.  Our present code should be reviewed to decide if its requirements are truly minimum; the code should be reviewed periodically.

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