Evening star., 1936-12-05

This service. limited as 1t Is. has par
ticular value at the present time be-
cause Of the severe shortage OF habita-
bic dwellings at low rent
In order to make its efforts of the
greatest possible value to the COM
munity, the committee has cooper
sted with other agencies in work that
will improve housing conditions To-
cally. This has included
81. Serving. by appointment Of It's
individual members. as advisers to the
Housing Division. p. w. A.. on the
Iangston project. now under con-
struction, which will provide good
low-rent dwellings for 274 local COL
ored families.
o Giving requested advice to the
Alley Dwelling Authority in its rec
lamation of Washington's alley slun1s.
g. Preparing for the Board of Pub
lie Welfare a report form containing
the most commonly found unsafe or
insanitary housing conditions, to-
sether with the District government
department to which each condition
should be reported. This has been
in Use by the social workers in the
Public Assistance Division during this
year. Special housing problems aris-
ing out OF the use of this report form
are referred to the Washington Com
mittee on Housing for action.
a. interviewing and examining
over 300 local applicants for admis-
sion to the housing management
course Of the National Association Of
Housing Ohicials. The committee rec
commended those who were admitted
to the course as possible managers Of
local housing projects.
"5 Giving every practicable as
sistance to private groups planning to
provide good low-rent housing either
by new construction or reconditioning
projects.
Educational Projects.
Believing that there are few social
ills that cannot be improved by
greater diffusion Of accurate informa-
ton, the committee has devoted con-
siderable time and effort to educa-
tional projects. These include:
Il. Sponsoring q self-liquidatlng
conference on better housing among
Negroes. at which were discussed such
vital subjects as minimum standards
of housing, the cultural importance
OF good housing and the .family's part
in better housing There were 4ss
registrants at this conference, a re-
port OF the proceedings Of which has
been published by the committee. In
making arrangements for the confer
ence the committee was Joined by
the Districts leading organizations Of
colored people. The Committee on
General Arrangements was composed
of IS active workers, all Of whom
were colored
2. Arranging conference on
methods Of reducing the cost of resi-
dental construction in the District
Well-qualiEed specialists discussed
recent technical developments In
house building. The proceedings Of
the conference are now in the latter
stages Of preparation. This confer
ence was also self -liquidating.
"3. Maintaining a classified ref
erence library on housing with special
reference to the District OF Columbia.
Besides its usefulness to our own staff
and members, this material is used by
students, club members and interested
District citizens.
q. Publishing from time to time
a four-page housing letter comment
ing on local housing trends and de-
velopments. which is sent to persons
who have asked to receive 1t and to
those who have indicated their in.
terest in the work Of the committee in
making their gifts through the COM
munity Chest. Three letters have
been published this year.
IS. Arranging housing exhibits at