The broad ax., 1908-03-21
BETTER HOMES FOR THE POOR

In this weeks chat let US talk
about better homes for the poor.
BY this we mean homes that are
properly built and provided with
proper means for plenty Of light and
air. 1t has been repeated in these
talks many times that consumption
Is house disease; and that the
home and the workshop are the two
enclosures in which consumption is
most often contracted.
1t follows, then, that the proper
housing Of the people becomes a
most important factor in promoting
their general health and comfort. 1t
is true; too, that many people living
in modern, weIl-built homes are not
alive to the value Of fresh air and
sunshine; and so they suffer accord
ingly the same fIleffects as do the
poor tenement jewellers who live in
rooms where, through either the greed
or Ignorance, or both, Of the landlords,
the important features Of light and
ventilation have been overlooked al
together.
But, aside from the need Of edu-
eating those who have good homes to
the importance of keeping them well
ventilated, there Is the much larger
need Of better tenements for those
who cannot AFFORD to pay the high
rents demanded for the better class
of tenements. And right here in Chi
cago Is a field where genuine phi
Ianthropy can be made a commercial
success.
BY this is meant that model, up
to-data tenements can be built here
in Chicago and rented so as to yield
at least per cent on their cost after
dedueting all expenses for mainten-
ance. Here is what we mean by the
model tenement
First of all, plenty OF ground that
Is, enough for the building to stand
on and leave some room for the chill
dren to play. There should be all the
light and air possible. The buildings
should be fre-prcof and thoroughly
sanitary. There should be outside
light in every room; steam or hot
water heat; q gas range and proper
toilet facilities for each apartment
A work of this kind has already
g.
where a noted philanthropist Mr..
Harry Phipps, has made a gift Of ST.
100000 to be devoted solely to the
construction of improved tenements
for the poor. 1t is also plan Of the
donator of this magnificent gift that
the income derived from the rental
of the buildings shall be devoted to
the erection of additional buildings.
Commenting on Mr.. Phipp's work, the
New York Evening Post urges that
the trustees Of the fund devote some
portion of it to building homes or
tsnements for the Colored people. It
says: Their plight is grevious.
Only the worst buildings are open to
them, and at much higher rates than
are asked Of white people. The Ne
groes are great home lovers; as a
rule they are clean and mainly self
supporting. Yet, decent Negro fami-
lies are often forced into low and dis
reputable associations, for the reason
that no other quarters are open to
them, 30 that their need Of good tene-
ments is great"
In the city Of Washington model
tenements are being erected and man
aged by the Washington Sanitary
Housing Company. The work. accord
ing to Dr.. Huber, Is being based Who'll
II upon the principle Of securing q
radical change for the better Of ex-
isting housing conditions for the poor
IN that city. Twostory houses are
being built containing three and four
room fats with bathroom and sanitary
plumbing, On sites formerly occupied
by miserable, tumble-down shacks
that we're wholly unit for human habi-
tation. These fats are rented at 500
ana $500 q month. As an incentive
to the tenants to talks care Of the
apartments they occupy. one months
rent Is set aside for Interior repairs
each year. Any portion Of this sum
-. ! Is given to the tenant a. =
49, a his rsnt he houses 30
fuE De paying 4 PER cant On the IN