Evening star., 1934-08-24
FIJI. A. CAMPAIGN
LAUNCHED HERE
Meeting Sponsored by Star
Hears Addresses on I'm.
provement Program.

A publicity campaign, which will
inform every homeowner in wash
ington, as well as the rest OF the
country, concerning possibilities OF
borrowing on the "installment plan"
for home improvements, was inaugu-
rated last night, when civic leaders
of the District and suburban areas
heard addresses by w. D. Flanders,
director of field organization OF the
Federal Housing Administration, and
Francis G. Addison, jr.. liaison of11cer
between the District Bankers Asso-
citation and the F. H. A.
Later, 1t is expected, the housing
agency, which guarantees bankers
against loss on loans made for home
improvement, will open its drive to
educate home owners on how they
may take advantage Of its program.
A District of Columbia chairman will
be appointed soon and his committee
will take up the work of publicizing
the guaranteed loans. Last nights
meeting was sponsored by The Stars
$1,000 Better Homes Contest.
Will Help Every One.
The program of the Housing Ad-
ministration, Mr.. Flanders said, is
not merely to organize building
campaign, but campaign which
will affect everybody. Building peo-
pie, of course, will feel the pickup
first, but lit is a certainty that before
very much more time has passed
every one will find he is beginning
to benefit" He said the administra-
ton was set UP to get to the bottom
of at least a share of the unemploy-
ment situation, as well as to repair
the many properties that have fallen
into disrepair because Of the de-
preston.
"The Federal Housing Administra-
tion," he said, 'iS behind business 100
per cent. 1t is behind the home owner
200 per cent. 1t is making it pos
sible for people to make repairs and
improvements they have been wishing
to do for several years. 1t is helping
them increase the value of their
property. The Better Housing Pro-
gram is not basing its campaign on
emotional appeal 1t is conducting
an education campaign in an en-
deavor to show people how they can
benefit themselves.
Rush Not Expected.
1.-THE American people have always
responded to this kind of an appeal
they will do so now"
In his address Mr.. Addison said not
to look for a great rush of improve
ments because of the guaranteed
loans. He said the program will get
under way on solid foundation, and
that "by December, 1885, you will see
whole neighborhoods take on a new
appearance" as the home owners find
how the plan works.
The District banker described the
facility with which it is possible to
make out loan applications, outlined
the regulations under which loans are
made, and said the attitude taken by
Washington banks, "and I believe it
is the spirit of the F. H. A." is not
to urge people to undertake new obli-
cations when they are unable to meet
their present ones, but to urge that
those who are able to repay such loans
on an installment basis use the credit
provided to make improvements and
thereby contribute to relieving unem-
ployment.
The Stars competition will close
September Is, after having publicized
for five months in Washington a
home-improvement program similar to
the one which soon will begin receiv-
ing national publicity through the
Federal Housing Administration set
up. Application blanks still are avail
abe at The Star, and a telephone
call or note to the Better Homes Con-
test Editor will bring them immedi-
ately.
Prizes in Two Glasses.
Prizes in the contests are divided
into two classes, for improvements to
homes valued at $4,000 or less and
for homes worth more than this
amount. In each class a first award
of $3.50, second, $1O0, and third, $50,
are to be given, as well as four honor
able mention prizes of $25 each. The
Board Of Trade will give $100 for
outstanding landscape improvement
and another $100 will 60 to the citi-
zens' association whose members
show the greatest interest, measured
in terms Of entries.
Although the community cam
paigns under the Federal Housing
Administration have not been or
ganized, that agency reports many
responses to its modernization credit
plan over the country. In a release
to the press today it said:
Numerous inquiries from publica-
tions Of all types have reached the
Federal Housing Administration re-
garding compilation of all loans
made to date throughout the United
States. 1t is to be remembered that
although loans have been made in
many sections of the country, reports
OF them will not be received by the
Housing Administration in Washing
ton for several weeks. AS a matter
of fact, such reports are not required
sooner than within 80 days. The
folio ing are samples of informal re-
ports that have been received by the
Federal Housing Administration. The
flrst is from a prominent plumbing
and heating concern in New York
City:
ModerniZation credit nlan is q