The Housing Assistance Council (HAC) is setting up this blog for our inimitable friend and colleague Arthur M. (Art) Collings, Jr., who died on March 23, 2010.
Art began working in rural housing in 1955. He started in New Jersey as an assistant county supervisor at the Farmers Home Administration (FmHA), quickly moving up to county supervisor and then to a variety of other positions in New Jersey and Washington, D.C. Beginning in 1972, the year in which the newly created Housing Assistance Council began hiring staff, Art's jobs at FmHA alternated with periods at HAC. He served as special assistant to FmHA Administrator Gordon Cavanaugh from 1977 to 1980. From 1986 until his reluctant retirement at the end of 2004, Art served as HAC's senior housing specialist.
Gordon Cavanaugh, HAC's first executive director, once explained that he hired Art because he was told Art was the most liberal staffer at FmHA. "He taught the rest of us everything we knew," said Cavanaugh. "Arthur was just extraordinarily dedicated, well informed, and a good-humored gentleman."
Art wrote dozens of publications about USDA's rural housing programs, from manuals on how to use them to analyses of how they could be improved. He authored a number of amendments to the programs, advised people all over the country on their use, and conducted countless training sessions.
Art's dedication to improving housing conditions for low-income rural Americans was unmatched. His feistiness and humor, added to his extensive knowledge of USDA's rural housing programs, made him unique, sometimes frustrating to work with, and well-loved around the country.
Art is survived by his wife Jean, his sons Art and David, and his grandchildren. Information about his funeral will be posted here when it becomes available.
Many, many people in the rural housing world have Art Collings stories. Please feel free to use this site to share them. If you have problems with the site or want to contact HAC directly, please email Leslie Strauss at leslie@ruralhome.org or call her at 202-842-8600.
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I just learned of Art's passing and it truly is a sad day. There has been a core of truly wonderful people at the heart of the Rural Housing Movement, who inspired those in the trenches to keep up the good fight. These folks were just fixtures, who would always be there inspiring us to continue one family, one house at a time to make life a little better for rural folks throughout our country. Art certainly was at the very heart of that core. His passing is a terrible loss to all of us, but somehow I know he will continue to inspire us to keep up the good fight. I feel I was privileged to know him. My thoughts go out especially to his family at this very sad time. Barbara Lamphere, Auburn, NY
ReplyDeleteI admired Art collection of data on the RD funding and mostly for the history of the Mutual Self-Help program.
ReplyDeleteI kept his statistics, I missed him when he left HAC, I wanted to follow his example and continue with the data collection. I just could not achieve what he did, but I think he left a legacy of historical data that helps us to trace the impact of his contributions for the efforts to provide housing in Rural America. I thank him for the work he did on the Rural Movement and hope newer generations will learn from his example.
He definitely made a difference in my life.
Sylvia H Corona, RCAC. Ukiah, California
Comrade Art would have something to say about being the subject of a blog! He remains an inspiration to those who have choices, but, stay faithful to the mission....housing Rural Americans...
ReplyDeleteHe started SMTCCAC on its journey. He and McCauley became friends for life. I was blessed to have known him...his spirit lives on in those of us still willing to fight for social justice.
Art Collings was Saul Alinsky disguised as a federal employee. That's a flip remark but also has a grain of truth. He had the heart and soul of a community organizer, but also was expert in getting things done through housing programs. He was THE expert. Some memories of Art:
ReplyDeleteGetting to work at HAC by 5:30 most mornings, and then heading over to FmHA, with his staff ID, to roam the halls looking for contacts, data, etc.
Skipping through those same halls.
Reciting his original poem, "All the Way With the FHA," to the bemusement of newer HAC staff.
Trying to quit the board of the National Rural Housing Coalition, over some doctrinal dispute. The Coalition, recognizing Art's value, refused to accept the resignation and instead named him as its only permanent board member.
Being asked frequently to opine on some arcane housing issue, and then returning two hours later with 15 hand-written legal-size pages, including detailed footnotes and tables (and footnotes to the tables).
Writing an annual report for HAC with extensive details on the use of RD/FmHA programs in the previous year.
Celebrating every May Day, the international socialist holiday, with appropriate greetings and by wearing his red shirt.
Feeding HAC huge supplies of his home-grown strawberries and tomatoes.
Terrifying a HAC intern by pretending to eat a cockroach.
Being left in charge of HAC for a few days in the early 70s by Exec. Dir. Gordon Cavanaugh, and then giving raises to several people after he saw the salary schedule.
Being eccentric, brilliant, opinionated, dedicated, unique and irreplaceable.