Evening star., 1940-01-05
Citizens Told Vote
For D. T.. Can Help
Remedy Bad Housing
Connecticut Avenue
Association Hears
Mrs. Helen Hoffman

Scoring insufficient and poor
housing as an important factor in
the health and crime records of the
District, which are among the worst
In cities of the same size in the
United States" Mrs Helen Duey
Hoffman, executive director of the
Washington Housing Association,
last night urged members of the
Connecticut Avenue Citizens Asso-
citation to work for improved hous-
ing conditions for the loW-waged
groups of the city.
AS a means of achieving correc-
tive measures in local housing, Mrs.
Hoffman urged the citizens to inten-
sify their efforts to gain suffrage SO
that their sentiment in the matter
will carry weight" Mrs. Hoffman
deplored the fact that Washington
is the only city in the Nation to have
no representation in Congress.
Birth Factor Cited.
The speaker called attention to a
steady decrease in the number of
children of the past two genera
tions of families earning over $4,000
annually as compared to an increase
IN those of the lower wage bracket
and said that the children of the
latter group must be afforded ade-
quate home facilities as a guaran-
tee for worthy citizenship of the
future, both in the Nations Capital
and the Nation at large. Mrs. Hoff-
l.
shortage of low-rental housing in
Washington, the percentage of
tenable home vacancies being per
cent, while the normal figure is 10
per cent, and that this fact compelS
living in either crowded residences
or in places actually unsuited for
occupation.
Mrs. Hoffman pictured slum
dwelling conditions here where as
many as five families are living in
buildings of four rooms and termed
such conditions as breeding
grounds for the penitentiaries and
hospitals"
wv. P. A. relief funds are insuffi-
cient to provide all the needs, in
cluding food, clothing and housing
of stricken families" the speaker
declared, adding that "every effort
must be extended to provide more
and more modern, sanitary homes
such as those recently erected
throughout the city" Mrs. Hoffman
declared that conditions are so bad
In Washington that in several places
the problem of rat infestation has
actually become a menace.
The speaker was accorded a rising
vote of thanks by the association.
The association commended the
District Commissioners for their
preparation of the 1941 budget,
which permits a real estate tax
rate of no more than SITS per $100
valuation. Action was unanimous.
The association also called for the
return of Is firemen released from
the department last year for rea-
sons of economy.
Protest was voiced against tuition
free enrolment of nonresident
school children in District institu-
tions and vote of commentator
adopted to acknowledge Senator
Kings efforts to prohibit the proce-
dure. Citizens declared it unjust
that local residents should pay
taxes to provide education for nom
paying outsiders.
Ask Parking Change.
A letter to Traffic Director Will
liam A. Van Duzer was authorized
asking that two-hour parking be re-
instated along the north side of CAL
vert street between Woodley place
and Connecticut avenue NV. An
other communication to the traffic
office will protest against allotment
of two parking spaces for bus stops
along Connecticut avenue NV.
The Capital Transit Co. will be
asked to increase the number of
buses operating on Connecticut ave-
nue. south of Klingle bridge to avoid
overcrowding. The company will
also be asked to install proper ven-
tilation" on buses along this route.