Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-08-30
HUNDREDS Of FAMILIES
HERE MADE HOMELESS
Serious House Shortage Forces Many
Into Boarding Houses With
Children.
BUILDING PROVES DILATORY
War and High Prices Halt ConstruC-
ton Of Living Quarters While
Population Increases - Storage
Houses Cr:unmcd With Furniture.

Hundreds OF Richmond families to-
day face the situation OF being
homeless
Confronted by the most serious house
shortage in tho history az the city.
these families. many composed largely
Of young children. are being forced
into boarding houses. single and double
furnished and unturnisbed room.
rhe storage houses arc literally
bursting with household goods belong
ne 10 residents who have had TO give
W their homes.
Expecting to secure other accom-
modatioDS by September next Mon
day. Richmond's moving day"-;hesc
families gave the customary three
months notice. as IN past years. only
to ind that every apartment ana house
and fiat had been Eohhlcd up almost
lease II.
Increased rents. causing many resi-
influx Of many new citizens. lack Of
home building during the war period
are among the reasons for the present
conditi according 10 real estate MEN
and houSeholders.
Situation Is GLOOMY.
Both real estate men ana citizens
view the situation GloOmily. and de-
clare themselves at a loss to find a
remedy. Every available house or
apartment is snappcd up as soon as
offered for rent. price appearing TO
residents facing the contingency OF
either paving and getting, or living in
the open.
One of the most significant features
OF the present house shortage was re-
Ncaled This week when a delegation
q , mo;hers called upcn Mrs Robert
=. Hudson, president of the Richmond
Federation OF Mothers Clubs and ibc
Parent Teacher Associations. Accord
ing to Mrs. Hudson. these mothers
made an urgent appeal for some ac-
tion 10 solve the problem. declaring
they would he without homes after
AZ nonn [i;,,, unless they should buy
houses al rates beyond their reach.
They h1r,oush, on, tina, the majority
closed TO them. as the owners reused
Many 81 the women cried Mrs. Hudson
reported. rs they told their troubles
Few Homes Arc built.
Real estate men say there has boon
= stoACy scream OF persons into their
oillc"s for the past four or nvc months
an seeking TO rent homes, The opera :
crease OF building each wear is about
1000 homes. hut that while the war
was in progress and since the armis-
C-e. on account OF the high cos, or
labor and materials. there has been
hut little home building here While
nome production remained a, a stand
N''h w" 'lNS Inf War period Inc nOpula
ton OF the city increased. and has
continued TO do so each month
Only apartment houses. considered
as good PAYING Investments. nave been
constructed this summer. and these are
rented practically from blue prints
There are not enough OF these in con
siruct:on now, tho operators state. tn
care for any large share Of tho home
less Citizcnrv.
BOARDING Houses Popular.
In the meantime. boarding houses are
t!l!nE up and rentals for two and
thrce-rooN living quarters are ascend
ing. II has been suggested by Mrs.
Hudson that movements he started
for tho erection of portable houses
on vacant property in tho vicinity OF
school houses
steps We're taken early in the sum
yer for the ConStructio or a large
-iumhcr OF homes IN Richmond. "a hpus-
ing corporation having been organized
and chartered by several business men.
At the initial meeting. 100000 was
subscribed toward a maximum cnpital
stock Of Sl.coG,OO0. The corporation
planned to constructed medium priced
homes on propertN to hc developed
entirely ny the organization. What
action has been taken 10 carry out
these plans further than The original
subscription %. -:l00t0o and rrelimi-
nary or~aniz.ti.2 go'Ea not be learned
q a 40