The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-09-17
WASTE SPACE IN
HOMES WOULD AID
HOUSING PROBLEM
Other Cities Help Solution by
Citizens Renting Part of
Residences Not Used by
Family.

Prospective residents of Memphis and
even those who already are residents
are facing q most serious problem to
n living quarters. Despite the fact
h q Memphis is leading all Southern
cities IN building activities and many
new houses are being erected, there is
apparently no prospect Of immediate re-
lieI unless the people Of Memphis who
own their W homes take some action.
waste is accredited with being n
prime factor in the present high cost Of
lVing. This waste applies to homes as
well as to articles of food and clothing,
There are hundreds Of homes in Mem
PMS where there is a large amount of
waste space-rooms that are not used
or needed and a man who recently ar
rived in Memphis to make his home but
who has so far been unable to secure
a location for himself and family has
cited the action taken in other cities
70 relieye the housing problem.
IN other cities M even in small
towns the people who own their own
homes have opened them up to
strangers, renting them furnished and
unfurnished. Several motives are be-
hind this action, the principal one, how
ever, being a desire or the part of the
residents of these cities to encourage
the growth of their respective cities.
The ~stoppage OF building activities dur
ing the war period has contributed
largely to the present condition and 1t
will be some months before even normal
conditions are reached. 4
The principal difficulty In Memphis Is
being experienced by newcomers Many
OF them are without furniture and must
necessarily rent furnished rooms either
for light housekeeping or with board.
a man who Is in position to know states
that If the people of Memphis who have
their own homes would only rent them
that the situation in Memphis could be
easily solved.
Gould Select Tenants.
The demand for accommodations is
far In excess of the supply and. as a
consequence, 1t would be Unnecessary
for householders in renting parts Of
their homes to let them out to undesir-
able tenants. In fact, the selection of
tenants could be handled in the same
way as the purchase Of an automobile
or other merchandise. In cases where
the rooms were leased not from neces-
sity, but to assist in relieving conges-
ton, there would be no reason for any
one taking into their homes uncon-
genial or undesirable people.
The prevalent high prices nave had
the effect of opening up many homes to
renters that were formerly closed and
many are those who have taken ad-
vantage of the opportunity to reap a
golden harvest from rooms in their
homes that are in reality not needed.
Patriotism or rather civic pride should
actuate Memphians in the matter our
informant says, n in this way the
city's growth is not retarded during the
period when houses are scarce; the peo-
pie who are thus favored and takenlinto
the homes of Memphians immediately
become impressed with their generosity
n have nothing but praise for Mem
phis and its citizens wherever they 20.
In this connection he pointed out the
danger of spelling the good effect of
such hospitality by rent profiteering.
People who rent their homes or por-
tons OF them in a desire to help their
town rather then for the money that
they derive from 1t should be very care
full, 1t was pointed out, to charge rent
that will net them a reasonable and fair
profit for their property and incon-
~Venience and not go in for profiteerlng.