Evening star., 1940-03-17
..Langston Shift
To A. D. A. Is
Expected Soon
Occupants Fearful
Slash in RentoIs
May Force Exodus

Slash in RentoIs
May Force Exodus
BY NELSON M. SHEPARD.
Langstons 274 oovernment-housed
families VIII have . new landlord
this week.
Transfer Of the 3l,75o.e17 low.
rent housing project at Bennins
road and Twenty-first street NE, it
was learned yesterday, is expected
to be made in q few days to the
District Alley Dwelling Authority
which viii assume all oblieatio for
future maintenance and operation.
The change is expected to be made
without disturbing the existing scale
of rentals.
Final negotiations for leasing of
the 13-acre development from the
United States Housing Authority,
which inherited it two years ago,
were concluded last week. All that
remains to make it effective, unless
some unforeseen problem arises, Is
the official clearance of the papers.
More important to the Langston
tenants than the transfer itself is
the earlier assurance given in Official
circles that they need have no fear
OF mass evictions becat,se of possible
rent reductions.
Only among families occupying
Government housing projects for
low incomes can there be found
large groups Of tenants who live in
fear the landlord will reduce their
rents. Should this happen, some
families would be forced to move be-
cause their incomes exceed a sum
flve times the reduced rent.
Cut Made on "A Projects.
That the Langston tenants fear
OF a possible rent reduction was
warranted is indicated BY a U. S.
H. A. press release yesterday which
cited that monthly rentals in "a
public housing projects owned by
the Federal agency have been
slashed, an average of $4.O4 per
family dwelling unit. The rent re-
ductions. which aggregate $4s2 900
q year, were achieved pursuant to
the U. S. H. A. policy Of maintain.
ing rents at the minimum consist.
ent with the needs Of the lowest in.
come group, together with the pro.
vision for general operation costs.
Inquiry developed that among the
10000 families now occupying these
"A projects. probably is per cent, or
1,500 families, eventually will be
forced to move out Of their homes.
Because immedibte eviction would
drive them back into the city slums,
the adjustments will be made
gradually. Omcials said they would
be given time to find suitable liv-
ing quarters elsewhere, even If IL
takes six months or q year. But
the law says they must be evicted
II their incomes exceed i've times
the rent.
Langston is one of 4s housing
projects built by the former hous-
ing division of the Public Works
Administration which were decided
over to the U. s. H. A. two years
ago. It Is the only one of its kind
IN Washington.
Amendments to the Alley Dwell.
ing Act contemplated that the U. S.
H. A. should divest itself Of owner.
ship and management of any low.
rent housing project in the Dis
trict, and that the A. D. A. should
assume control Of such properties.
Higher Incomes Than Most.
One reason why sharp rent re-
duction would affect 50 many Of
Langston's tenants adversely Is be-
cause the 274 families represent q
much higher income group than are
generally admitted to the U. s. H. A.
financed projects. That was due to
the high cost of the project, built
In the early years Of the p. w. A.
program, and necessarily high rents
required to defray maintenance and
operation costs.
Until other arrangements are
made, it was said Langston will
continue to remain the high income
group in Washington's public hous-
ing projects financed through U. s.
H. A. loans. A few. of Langston's
families have incomes as high as
81 400, but a majority range around
$3.50 to 1924.
Recently, the maximum incomes
of tenants admitted to I'LL vacan-
cies. was reduced to four times the
rent. instead Of five times to insure
lower-incomed group. Incident
ally, this new adjustment will make
1t easier for the new tenant to
continue occupancy In the event Of
further rent reductions.