Evening star., 1934-07-18
HOMEBETTERMENT
PROGRAM PUSHED
H. Q. /. c. Units Throughout
Country Are Nearly
Completed.
BY VINCENT TUTCHING.

Organization of home recondition-
ing units in the Offices Of the Home
owners Loan Corporation throughout
the country is practically complete,
officials of the corporation REVEALED
today in reporting progress of the
Governments plan for repairing and
renovating residences on which the
II o. l.. C. holds mortgages.
This recouditioning program, which
Is entirely apart from and does not
conflict with the purposes of the
newly created Federal Housing Ad-
miniStration, will result In home I'M
provement work In the aggregate OF
500 900 900 by the first Of the year,
IL was estimated by Donald H. Nc
Neal. head OF the reconditioning divi-
sion of II. o. l.. c.
In excess of 100000 applications
have been filed with the corporation
from all over the country, represent
ing work which will cost upward OF
$50 100000. These represent an &C
emulation which was on hand when
the home loan act was amended TO
permit this type of work to be
financed by the corporation as well
as applications which have come in
during the last two months.
so Per Cent TO Go TO Labor.
Labor. McNeal estimated. will get
about so per cent Of all that is spent
for reconditioning, which indicates at
least 0,000 900 will go into local
employment all over the country by
the end Of the year as a consequence
Of H. o, L. c. activity alone.
Although the functions Of the recon-
ditioning division of the Home Owners
Loan Corporation and of the Federal
Housing Administrators moderniza-
ton division are similar as to the
nature OF the work they seek 10 de-
velop. the property owners eligible for
assistance under each fall within two
distinct classes, McNeal emphasized
today in an effort TO clear up mis-
understanding that still prevails as to
the functions of the two bodies.
The II. o. L. G. can handle only
applications from home owners whose
properties have been rehnauced
through the corporation or are about
to be mortgaged over to II, or from
home owners whose properties are
clear and unencumbered and for
whom loans for reconditioning are
unavailable from private sources.
F. II. A. Does Not Lend.
The Federal Housing Administra-
ton. on the other hand, is set UP to
assist property owners in good credit
standing to obtain loans up to $4,000
from private lending agencies to mod
ernize and repair, repaying the ad-
vances over periods up to five years.
The F. II. A. does not lend money
direct to the owner, but gives lenders
ample security by insuring against
losses up to 30 per cent OF the total
volume of loans.
Because Of confusion in the public
mind as to the purpose of each Of
these Government agencies applica-
tions which come under the H. o.
L. c. have been going TO the F. H. A.,
and vice versa
Federal Housing Administrator
James A. Moffett was moving some
of his force into the quarters as
signed To him In the new Post once
Building, but can occupy the space
only as fast as 1t is vacated by the
Indian Affairs Bureau, which is NOV
ing to the Hurley Wright Building.
Pending establishment Of his ONCE,
Moffett will not issue rules and reg
ulations regarding modernization
loans, or make any announcement as
to procedure for administering other
portions OF the national housing act.
While these developments give an
indication of the interest being shown
nationally in the property improve
ment movement. committees handling
The Stars 81 900 Better Homes Con-
test in the metropolitan area of Wash
ington were given fresh campaign
material today in the form OF a large.
attractively colored poster, prepared
by The Star for display in stores,
club houses and ether gathering
places. 1t describes tie purposes and
obJectives Of the Better Homes Con-
test, and lists the Is separate prizes
which are to be awarded fortunate
home owners when the contest closes
These prizes are in two classes-for
homes valued at $4,000 and less and
for homes appraised above that figure.
In each class the prizes are: First,
$3.50, second, 500. third, $50, and
four honorable mention prizes of s25
each. The Board of Trade has con-
tributed 500 for a special landscapiug
prize.