Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-11-27
Work of Settlement Houses
Restricted by Lack of Funds
D. c. Institutions Keep Children OFF
Streets and Cut Delinquency

A little fellow was up before the
Juvenile Court one day not long age
for entering an empty house and
making of with a small quantity Of
loot attractive to the eyes Of a 10
year -old.
The youngster had no record. His
family had a spotless reputation in
the neighborhood. He had simply
become friendly with a boy who had
moved into the house next door.
Most severely critical were his
comrades at Barney Neighborhood
House where he had gone occa-
sionally.
IF he had been here" they in
sisted, 1T would never have hap
pened."
Keeping the boys interested is the
principal object Of the settlement
houses and their most pressing prob
lem. The boys were correct in as
Stunning that regular attendants at
the settlement houses rarely got into
trouble, but getting youngsters In
the habit of attending settlement
houses regularly is the problem.
Small STATS Restrict Work.
In the last two years, at Neighbor-
hood House alone, the number who
have passed through its doors In the
first five months Of the year has in
creased from 1880 to 10000. All
these children have shown some in
terest, but some of the clubs in the
centers are closed to them because
small stats put restrictions on the
number of children able to be taken
care Of in each club.
The cut budgets required by the
failure of the Community Chest to
make its quota In past years have
kept the stats small, underpaid and
overworked. Volunteers have been
willing to help with the club work,
but they are unframed. Settlement
houses can't prevent workers from
taking better-paid, Disseminating
jobs and the turnover is appallingly
large.
The principal dread of settlement
house superintendent is that cut
budgets will necessitate striking of
items under the general heading OF
miscellaneous supplies"
These supplies are the tools with
which the settlement houses inter-
est the youngsters, draw them into
activities at the houses, take them
off the streets and away from alley
crap games.
The supplies include machinery
and wood for the carpentry shops,
various games for the game rooms
where youngsters learn to play fair,
where the habit of cheating is
broken, and materials for classes
in drawing, metal work, weaving
and other handicrafts.
Adult Education Glasses.
The settlement houses provide
care and leisure-time activity for all
the youthful residents of their
neighborhoods from infants in arms
to young people in their late teens
and early EOS. Several of the CEN
tiers have adult education classes
in addition to their work with
youngsters.
There is no organization in the
city designed exclusively for young
people between the ages of 18 and
23. At Barney Neighborhood House,
which is considered typical of the
other seven settlement houses. young
people Of this age are just begin
ming to come in. A room has been
provided for them as q club where
they can meet for games, discussions
and forums. But furniture is needed
to make the room nvable, to attract
those for whom it Is designed.
Boys and girls In their late teens
have no place to entertain their
friends at home. The settlement
house Is their only answer, the only
place where youths can meet girls
under normal conditions. Folk dane
ing and barn dances have met with
instant popularity among the young