The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-08-31

Mayor Frank Hayes mas taken the first step towards making possible a better Waterbury for thousands of residents in the low income groups and Rotarians of Waterbury, lead CTS of public thought, should join the mayor in this task, William M, Harris, executive secretary of Lin- coin house, declared today at the weekly Rotary club luncheon at Hotel Elton,
 As originally outlined in the Dem- ocrAt, Waterbury is seeking a large federal grant under the recently enacted -Steagall housing act, Shortage of more than 1000 homes in Waterbury created such serious problem that the federal measure was seen as the only re- course to provide normal living con- ditions for large percentage of population,
 EmisSary
 Mir, Harris, as emissary of Mayor Hayes, went to Washington to en- loin Connecticut congressman to light for passage of the housing oil so as to provide solution to Waterbury's problem. Also, the Lincoln House secretary has under taken study of the housing author ity set-up as allowed under the state act of the General Assembly,
 The progress, to date, of Water bury's first steps in obtaining a housing authority and survey of l11,i,,0 CnnaitinNe uylAinh ha dacorIl>arl as "disgraceful", were included in the speakers summing up of the situation. He deplored slum condi- tions and eXcoriated those persons who would allow crime and disease to breed in these areas.
 The text of the talk by MT. Har- ris follows:
 In the spring of 1884, the depart- ment of commerce made residen- tial survey of GA cities throughout the country. Six of these cities were in New England and one was Wat erilry. Statistics were collected on the number, types and condition of structures; on heating, cooking, lighting and sanitary facilities on rentals and property value and on the distribution of families and do- mestic conveniences. The field work was done by local enumerators un- der the guidance and with the CO., operation of the census bureau.
 According to the survey, Water bury has l6,060 dwelling structures of which 8,S99 were designed for a{.a0ln Ca ,,, lilac q aoK fan tU,n fa m . lies and 2,695 for three families, These three types constitute 90 per cents of the residences of the city and they comprise 30,304 dwelling units. The units are composed large ly of four, five and six rooms; 6,429 four room units; l0,302 five room units and 6,322 six room units,
 N In commenting upon the local situation, the department of com merce notes that Waterbury has one of the lowest percentages of home owners of any city surveyed and that 20 per cent of our families have in- adequate living space, In actual per- centage GA per cent of our 30,304 dwelling units are rented,
 Lack Utilities
 
 In regard to families, 3 per cent or ei9 of our homas are without run ming water, 90 per cent or s982 of our homes have no hot water; only l3 per cent have mechanical refrig- eration; 57 per cent or l7,397 of our homes are heated by stoves; 1878 homes have outside toilets; 3937 homes have no bath tubs or showers
 Of the l6,060 structures examined, 0,353 were In need of minor repairs, i,5l3 needed structural repairs and i36 were absolutely unfit for use, It was found that 532 homes rented for less than 5000 per month and 3,763 rented for less than Sle,00 per month. Most of these were beyond the realm of modernization and should be demolished for economic and asthetic reasons.
 Recently the department of pub lie welfare and Lincoln House have attracted public attention with the statement that rents cannot be se- cured for poor families It has been