Evening star., 1934-08-21
.LOW-RENT HOUSES
URGED FOR NEEDY
Crowded Conditions and
High Rates in Present
Quarters Criticized.

SOIloI1 uCI1Ol1 VI AOW-COSG IlOuoAA4S
projects to combat excessive rent
charges made here for really unin-
habitable dwellings" was recommended
yesterday by Leroy A. Halbert, research
director of the Emergency Relief Di-
vision, in a critical report on Wash
ington housing conditions.
Halbert charged that Washington
residents on relief rolls are paying
As per cent more rent than is being
paid by similar classes in other
cities. In the report, which was COM
piled by c. w. A. workers, Halbert
attacked overcrowded conditions, cited
the lack of proper sanitary facilities
and asserted that "an unjustifiable
amount of rent is paid for hundreds
of really uninhabitable dwellings"
12,080 Cases Canvassed.
The study was based on a house
to house canvass of the 1900 cases
ary 5, but in tabulating results of the
survey, Halbert used returns from
cases Of only 6,595 persons. He said
the others were incomplete.
Only four per cent of those on re-
lief own any equity in their homes
and there is evidence "of a great
deal of overcrowding," the research
director reported. In one case it was
found that more than 10 persons
were occupying a single room.
In another case seven persons were
| crowded into one room; in 18 cases
families of 6 lived in l room; in
"a cases families of S; in 162 cases
families of four, and in 403 cases
families Of 3.
The overcrowding was intensified,
Halbert reported, 'by the fact that
274 white families took in a total of
483 roomers and 298 other white
families took in a total of 1,178
boarders, while 995 colored families
took in total of 2,466 roomers and
$50 colored families took in a total
of 2,293 boarders."
$3.50 Ro0mers and Boarders.
"In other words" he concluded,
"the 6,595 families took in total of
$3.50 roomers and boarderS.
"If you consider that an average
Of l 5-10 persons per room is as
much as any dwelling should be ex-
pected to house, this study shows
that 346 per cent Of the houses we're
overcrowded.
1.-The two and three room dwellings
show some cases of overcrowding just
as bad, but the lack of proper air,
space and privacy among the families
was not any more pathetic than the
lorLr of y,rorror foPi1itins nf other kindS
besides space"
He enumerated these as follows:
!. Rooms without windows, 101.
2. Houses with inadequate toilet
facilities, 1899.
8. Houses without sinks, $50.
4. Houses where three or more
families use one sink, SIS.
S. Dwellings without running
water, GAL.
6. Dwellings with no sewer con-
| nections, 458.
7. Dwellings with broken stairs, 484.
8. Dwellings with broken windows,
1923. ..
No Social Life Possible.
Halbert said there were 222 white
families and 1,403 colored families liv-
ing in houses with no rooms other
than those used for sleeping purposes
"and the majority Of the houses
studied had inadequate provision for
any social life in the home"
The report observed that the "in-
ability of people to pay rent for ade-
quate quarters has increased the de-
mand for cheap quarters and the use
of dilapidated and unsanitary houses
has actually gone up during the last
two years as result of this demand,
and many houses are being rented
which have actually been condemned
by the health authorities"
''The study shows that 81 per cent
Of the dwellings studied were being
lighted by kerosene lamps and that
10 per cent of the dwellings were
heated by stove and the majority Of
these used wood for heating"
In recommending construction Of
more houses for persons with low in
comes, the report called attention to
the successful operation of low cost
housing companies organized on a
limited dividend basis, which could
furnish houses for less than is now
being paid for these terrible accomo-
dations which are being used by relief
families"
Other Recommendations.
Other recommendation included:
Construction of public bath houses
which would be operated on a year.
round basis.
That direct effort be made to
bring down rents in certain unfit
houses.
That no rent be paid for unfit
houses and that the relief families
living in such dwellings be moved to
sanitary homes.
Demolition of unfit houses
That landlords be required to fur
nish heating facilities.