The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1940-10-17
.USHA Now Hos 500
Local Authorities
Number Hos Grown From
46 In Past Three Years;
Defense Aid

Washington, d. C.-The number of
Local Housing Authorities organized
to enter the nationwide slum-clear-
ance and low-rent housing movement
has mounted to more than 500 it was
revealed today by the United States
Housing Authority:
This development was acclaimed by
Nathan Straus, USHA Administrator,
as "a new force in American life and
an important factor in national de-
! fense."
More than 90 per cent of these au-
thorities, he said, were created as a
/ direct result Of enactment in the Fall
Of 1887 Of the United States Housing
/ Act, which authorized the USHA to
| lend the local agencies funds with
which to clear slums and to build
housing projects for low income fami-
! lies
when the USHA came into exist
ence there were only 46 local authori-
ties in the country and these were
largely Inactive" said Mr.. Straus.
"Now, by virtue Of Federal, State and
local legislation, there are sol such
agencies and more are being organized
week by week. AS a result Of their
activities, the slums and blighted
areas of American communities are
gradually shrinking in size. This is
a reversal of a process that has been
going on for more than 100 years.
"Throughout the length and breadth
of the Nation, these local authorities,
made up of leading citizens who serve
without pay, have made local surveys
to determine housing needs, have ac-
quired property with due regard for
community improvement, have de-
molished slums, planned and built low
rent projects and have re-housed
thousands of low-income families.
"These agencies constitute a new
and powerful force in American life.
Their existence spells encouragement
for large segment of our population.
Before their development, little if any
thing was done to stop the cancerous
growth Of the slums and blighted res
idential areas, which have taken heavy
toll in human lives, destroyed prop
erty values and spread the costly evils
Of disease and delinquency throughout
the fabric of our national life.
"Now, this menace to life and prop
erty has been halted. Poorly housed
families by the thousands are being
liberated from the shackles of the
slums Men, women and children are
being elevated in spirit and improved
in health by decent, safe and sanitary
housing Mass discomfort is being
eliminated because, for the first time
families in the lowest one-third income
group realize that they have stake
in the community and a place in the
social scheme. With that realization
these families are becoming happy
and contented, developing a morale
that represents an important facto,
in strengthening the nations inner
lines of defense"
Outlining progress thus far achieved
in the nationwide slum-clearance and
low-rent housing program, Mr.. Straus
said 1913 local authorities have bor-
rowed $661 ,991 ,4S3 of USHA funds to
build 467 projects to provide low-rent
homes for l54 ,2O9 families. Many more
have requested assistance which could
not be granted because funds are eX-
hausted. There are PIG projects COM
prising 99,295 homes under con-
struction or completed, while more
than $4,000 substandard dwellings
have already been eliminated under
provisions of the L. S. Housing Act
Mr. Straus also pointed out that To-
cal housing authorities have played q
foremost part in the national defense
program by getting defense projects
under way within "an Incredibly short
time after emergency legislation was
passed by Congress on June 20, 1910
With the aid of the USHA, he said
local authorities in II communities
have rushed plans for q projects to
house 6,40S families of enlisted and
civilian personnel of the Army, Navy
and defense industries. Eight projects
! are now under construction and others
are to be started shortly. In addition
USHA funds totaling S7,225,000 have
been allocated to the War and Navy
Departments for construction of de-
fense projects in four localities where
there are no local authorities.
Further summarizing the public
housing program, Mr. Straus said
plans have been evolved for the de-
velopment Of rural projects to re-
house many farm families who have
been forced to live in the fimsiest
shacks because no decent housing is
available Six rural projects are now
under way or planned in as many
states to provide 1,50O families with
decent housing, while another large
rural housing program is being de-
veloped in Puerto Rico.
Here is ample evidence that the
tide has turned for millions of low
income families" said Mr.. Straus, 'In
three short years more has been done
10 check the growth of devastating
slums and to provide decent housing
for people than was accomplished in
a hundred years before. Certainly,
the main credit for this great achieve