The Washington herald., 1921-01-23
LACK OF HOUSING
Seen AS MENACE
TO NATIONS LIFE
Present Situation Lowers
Standard of Living, Says
u. Chamber Head.

take part In the conference OF the
National Council OF the United
States Chamber of q o&mmerce, to be
held in the New willard, January
27-2S, when the formulation of a
constructive national program for
the relief of the housing shortage
will be undertaken.
Responses to the invitation sent
out by the national chamber indi-
cate that there is great interest in
the purpose Of the conference, and
very definite willingness on the
part Of business men everywhere to
join hands in an effort to work out
a plan for a solution of this prob
lem. 1t is estimated by the civic
development department of the ma
tional chamber that the country is
short about 1,250,00 houses. This
means that there are at least A.
600, 900 persons in the United States
who are inadequately housed.
Seriously Underhoused.
"As a result of the world war,
the whole western world is seri-
Ously underhoused," said Joseph H.
Defrees, president OF the national
chamber, in discussing the object of
the conference. Before the war
our Industrial cities had never made
adequate provision for housing. The
slums of English and American
cities were the objects of attack by
reform organizations which decade
after decade induced some improve
ment through enactment of laws
that set minimum standards. But
we had not yet arrived at a good
standard universally applied by the
time the war broke out.
In the United States the effects
of the war varied during the con-
fiict in different parts of the coun-
try. Immigration having practl-
cally ceased, the war industries
centers drew thousands of people
from other parts of the country.
While Philadelphia, Newark, Wash
ington and other important centers
became so Overcrowded that the
Federal government had to step in
and give some relief, other cities
had temporarily a surplus of dwell
ings. A wider distribution Of war
however. When the war ended the
natural increase of population, ac-
companied by the cessation of
building, produced a nation wide
housing shortage. The effects
everywhere, except in the rural
districts, varied from acute discom-
fort to hardship, suffering and a
distinct lowering OF the standard
of living.
Population shifts.
With the present temporary fin
dustrial depression there came Fan
other shifting of population. From
those cities whose Industries were
not seriously affected, especially
those where the population had not
become fully established, there was
an exodus that left a considerable
number of vacancies. In part this
exodus was back to the farm, and
therefore was of real assistance in
solving our difficulties. But in part,
and probably the larger part, it
was to other cities where going
Industries held out some hope of
employment As q whole, there
fore, the situation was not relieved,
but continued to grow worse, Sthe
supply Of dwellings for an incrsas-
ing population continuing to fall
farther behind the need.
The continuance of high rents
has forced many families to double
up and to take in dodgers. Others
it has forced into poorer quarters.
So in two ways it has lowered Amer
lean standards of living. first by
forcing an invasion of the family
circle, second by compelling the
family to accept more cramped and
less healthful quarters. A year or
two ago we heard much of vacancies
in old, antiquated buildings We
hear little of that today.
Effects Cause Concern.
The social and economic effects
Of this lowering of the American
standard of living are already eaus-
ing serious concern to those in
position to observe them. 1t is by
general standard of living that the
civilization of a country may best
be measured. Concrete results upon
health, moEals and efficiency are OBJ
served. The public health officers
Of the country have ISSUED a warn
ing of what we may expect from
present overcrowding. Those whose
work brings them in contact with
the conditions see with anxiety that
much social life is being crowded
out of the home onto the streets
and other public places. Within the
dwelling the crowding of families
into space, designed for only one
family tends to break down stand,
ards.
"All> this must have its direct ef-
feet upon every phase of our nation
al life, including industry. The
greatest asset of nation is its
people. Their physical health and
moral fiber can not be broken down
without national disaster.
Raising a nations standard OF
living is a slow process. The dam