Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1934-05-14
NEW HOMESPLA
IS CONTEST AID
The Stars Movement Keeps
Capital Alive to Roose-
veIt's Program.
BY VINCENT TUTCHING.

DIX VINCENT IOlCHkNI.
National guidance and support for
locally managed renovizing cam
paigns" is the intent of the major
phase of President Roosevelt's plan
for Government aid to housing. pro-
posed to Congress in a message today.
In the Capital, which already is
alive to the idea of home moderniza-
ton through The Stars $1,000 Better
Homes Contest, the development of
such support Is destined TO add i'm
petus to the movement to improve
properties and at the same time in
crease employment in the building
trades.
While for the time being, it is I'M
derstood. the program outlined by the
President today would be admins
tered by the National Emergency
Council. it is expected new machinery
will be set up to provide the financing
guarantees contemplated under the
plan. 1t is expected that local agen-
cieS will be established.
Estimate Needed Repair.
The President in his message today
did not touch on the question of how
much in funds would be made avail
able through his plan. But estimates,
worked out by the staff of experts at
the National Emergency Council, who
have been studying this program for
several weeks, place the volume Of
needed home repair and moderniza-
ton at $1,000 100000 to $780,
900 900.
The prediction has been made that
at least half to two-thirds Of this
should be turned up during the rest
of this year, if the necessary induce
ment is given in the form Of provid-
ing the credit sources.
A great deal of skepticism prevailed
as the volume of work that could be
provided through 'renovizing." until
the N. E. c. launched into a national
survey of the situation. The figures
surprised members Of the staff.
Campaigns Unsuccessful.
The scattered campaigns for home
improvement during the last few
years, it has been argued, have not
been conspicuously successful due to
the fact they took the form of share
work" and buy now" movements,
rather than having the idea of bet
ter housing as their primary objective.
Although business and industrial
properties might come in for benefit
under the administration program, it
is emphasized that it is largely con-
fined to home improvements. The
plan is to have private institutions
make loans to individuals, with a
governmental agency insuring against
losSs up to certain point.
The Governments insurance against
loss. however, will not take care OF
credit extended for purposes other
than those that are deemed essential
to meet standards and conditions
which would protect the home owners
and cooperating agencies.
The Presidents ambitious rehabili-
tation program supplements Govern
ment efforts in another direction, an
nounced early this month, assuring
reconditioning of homes on which
Home Owners Loan Corporation-the
mortgage refinancing agency created
by Congress-holds the mortgage.
States, and something less than 1000
locally, would be affected by the H.
o. L. C. plan, necessarily restricted
to distress homes A total of $780,
600 900 is made available nationally
under this arrangement.
Home owners who avail themselves
of opportunities to recondition their
properties under either of these
plans automatically render them
selves eligible to enter the compel-
ton now being sponsored by The
Star.
In this contest IA prizes, totaling
81 900, will be awarded for the out
standing home improvements complet-
ed between April IS and September 10
in the metropolitan area. In adol-
ton. the Washington Board of Trade
is offering a 500 prize for land
Scaping.
Prizes in Two Glasses.
The Stars prizes are to be awarded
in two classes, for homes valued At
1000 and less and for homes ap-
praised at more than $4,000. In each
class the prizes will be: First prize,
$3.50: second prize, s100; third prize,
$50. and four honorable mention prizes
Of S25 each.
As an inducement to citizens asso-
Citations in the District and nearby to
promote the contest In the area OF
each, The Star has put up a 500 cash
award for the civic group producing
the best results. on the basis OF per-
centage of improvements completed.
A number of business establishments
are evincing interest in the contest
and some have announced they will
put up supplementary prizes in the
form of home equipment.
Contest entry blanks may be OBJ
tanned direct from the Better Homes
Contest Editor of The Star, or from
the local citizens association.