Evening star., 1938-01-23
Thousands to Be Turned A1vav
In Langston Rent Scramble
Rates, Lowest in u. S. for p. ". H.. At.
tract Many-April IS Date Set for
Occupying Quarters.


assistant to the advisor on Negro af-
fairs in the Interior Department;
handled people on relief as q case
worker for the Public Assistance Di-
vision and was also secretary in the
Twelfth Street Branch Y. M. c. A.
He will handle the selection Of
families under George O,Brien Bailey,
chief Of the division of rental man.
agement for the Housing Authority.
To qualify financially, a prospective
tenant must have a wage sufficient to
guarantee rent payments. but in no
case will family receive consider
alton whose income is flve times the
amount of the rent and utility charges
That is the law and no amount Of
political pull or drag it was said. shall
provide an exception to the rule
Without knowing the rent at Langs-
ton one can only make . guess at the
income range that will receive con-
siderstion. If rent is fixed at IS per
room for a two-room apartment, the
smallest unit provided, it is taken for
granted the tenants assured income
must exceed $l2 a month by fairly
wide margin to provide for other
ordinary living expenses. An appli-
cant for such an apartment. with a
$50 monthly income, would be passed
over.
Must BE Reliable Tenants.
Or suppose $50 a month were the
charge for four or five room house
A tenant with an income of around
$50 or SIS month might qualify if
otherwise acceptable. There will prob
ably be no hard set rule. just wide
enough margin to assure the applicant
being steady and reliable tenant.
There may be scramble among
the families for consideration of their
claims. but there will be no haste in
examining them. Formal applications
for dwellings will be taken in q few
weeks. After applications are filed,
letters will be sent out in accordance
with priority Of registration.
There are certain rules for living at
Langston. There can be no sub-leas-
ing of rooms. No single persons will be
accepted as tenants and the Govern
ment won't accommodate more than
seven in one family. Otherwise fami-
lies will face no more restrictions in
their manner of living than they do
now in their present homes. Lang
ston will have no institutional char
acteristics," it was said. There will
be no curfew hour; no special policing
or restrictions"
In fact, what is worrying the Hous-
ing Authority considerably Is the pos
sible impression being broadcast that
Langston is something of a Govern
ment institution. Nothing would serve
more easily than this to frighten away
prospective tenants.
A rating system will determine eliei-
bility. Persons living under the worst
conditions, If otherwise qualified, will
receive the highest rating.
Procedure Followed.
Here Is what happens after an ap-
plication has been filed. An investi-
gator will be sent to the home and re-
port on the condition Of the dwelling
to report whether 1t is unsafe, un-
sanitary, overcrowded or in a neigh
borhood detrimental to the morals of
the family"
The applicants wage and reliability
of character next will be checked with
his employer as further safeguard.
Then, too, an investigation is conduct
ed to see If he pays his rent regularly
and whether he has any outstanding
debts that might handicap him as a
desirable tenant. Rent-dodgers need
not apply.
Provided the applicant passes q sue
cessful test on all these points, his
family may or may not be admitted
to the select group Of 274 to whom q
new opportunity shall come. Con-
sidering the number Of applications
expected. his chances Of selection may
be about / in IS or in so.
Langston Is one Of the most expen-
sive projects. per number of units, that
the p. w. A. has built. A comparison
With colored project In Toledo, Ohio,
which cost total Of $1,94l, 1852, shows
q total cost Of $2,054 per rentable room
at LAngston, with $2,141 at Toledo.
This in spite Of the fact that Langston
was built on q 20-acre vacant tract
costing $50, TOT, while the Toledo site,
carved out Of . slum area, cost
$685. 1856.
The total cost per rentable unit at
Langston Is $6,77l, inclusive Of all
elements figuring into the planning
and construction Of the project.
Under the new Wagner-Steagall
Housing Act, the average cost per room
in cities having . population over
100000 cannot exceed $1,250 per room
and 5000 PR family dwelling.