Evening star., 1938-02-09

The Council of Social Agencies.
federation of SO social and civic
agencies in Washington. is vitally
concerned in the serious relief situ-
alton facing the community.
We are basing an appeal for
larger appropriations for the fiscal
year 1899 on facts which have been
gathered during the period of the
last few years and the experience
OF our member agencies during
these years.
Employable men. willing to work.
are unemployed They, their wives
ana babies. are slowly starving.
There is not l cent Of relief avail
able for them.
Relief funds, from the Districts
own tax money. are so inadequate
that general public relief is avail
able only for families in which
there is no employable person. and
not even for all of these. If the
amount recommended to Congress
for general relief in 1889 is not in
creased half of the 1900 families
now receiving aid must be dropped.
In December alone 1893 families,
representing $500 people, were re-
fused aid by the Public Assistance
Division because no funds were
available. Many were sick as well
rs destitute. 1t is estimated that
an additional S2,OOO,OO0 is needed
to put bread into the mouths of
these children and their parents,
to keep roofs over their heads, to
supply them with fuel-the bare
necessities.
Works Progress Administration
Is not and never has been able
to provide work for all families in
which there are members able and
eager to work and who are without
other means Of subsistence.
Washington is the only city
which does not help its destitute,
unemployed "employable" people.
The unemployment census shows
6 per cent Of Washington's popula-
ton as unemployed as against as
per cent for the country as a whole.
They are not tranSientS. Recent
studies show that IS per cent of
these families have lived here five
years or longer
The family welfare agencies
financed by the Community Chest
are utterly unable to cope with a
situation Of such magnitude. Com
munity Chest funds are given and
pledged to sick people, children in
foster homes and institutions, help
less old people In institutions,
young people who must have guild
ance. and to settlement work, as
we'll as to families and individuals
in distress. 1t Is just as impossible
for the Chest to break faith with
them and to divert to relief funds
given for these purposes, as it is to
divert public funds from the Health
Department, public schools and IL
braries to meet relief needs.
Our experience comedies with q
statement which has just been is
sued by the United States Public
Health Service, which reads:
1T Is apparent that inadequate
diet, poor housing, the hazards of
occupation and the instability of
the labor market definitely create
immediate health problems. Chronic
disabling illnesses in the relief
population occurred 1T an annual
rate Of 81 per cent higher than
that among families in the highest
income brackets"
II this Is true Of those who are
receiving assistance, how much
more serious must be the plight Of
those in need who are being re-
fused assistance.
In view Of the above situation
We must urge that the 1899 ap-
preparation for the Public Assist
ance Division be materially In :.
creased over the amount available
during the current year for two
reasons: First, that this years ap-
preparation has proven inadequate
to care even for unemployables, And
second, those who are employable
but unable to hnd work are left
without any assistance whatever.
These people who cannot ind work ..