Evening star., 1940-12-10
Roosevelt
Urges Housing
For Workers
Tells Association
That Overcrowdinq
Already Exists

Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt said
last night it seems almost Grim
inal to ask young people and older
people to come to Washington and
work for their country and have so
little thought about what happens to
them in their private lives" because
of a lack of housing.
"Overcrowding already exists
Mrs. Roosevelt told the annual pub
lie meeting of the Washington Hous-
ing Association, which brought about
700 persons to the United States
Chamber of Commerce auditorium.
1--WE should realize the responsibility
in the Capital of the Nation to pro-
vide adequate housing for the work.
ers in the various necessary Occu-
pations that go on in the Capital
Adequate housing lis the first
thing that gives people a sense of
having a real stake in the demo-
cratic way of life" 1t gives them
"a feeling that they have something
to defend in the democratic way Of
life. and that. I think. We should
begin with here in the Capital OF
the country" she said
"Very Basis" of Defense.
Unless I'VE recognize the need and
keep 1t constantly before the people
of the country, Congress is not going
to feel that it is part of defense"
Mrs. Roosevelt added. land yet 1t is
the very basis of defense because
you will do much more for coun-
try that gives you a decent way in
which to live, and you have to de-
pend for the defense of the country
upon many of the people who today
have not very much to defend"
Morris Cafritz, Washington builder
and operator, declared builders and
real estate men do not feel there is
going to be the slightest housing
shortage in the District and nearby
areas. Although several cities have
reported rents being increased. M.
Cafritz declared. Il assure you it
won't happen in Washington"
Private builders have constructed
during the past five years $4,000
housing units in and adjacent to
Washington. he said. During the
past year. he added. $4,000 to 1900
housing units have been constructed
here.
The low-cost housing field also
has been taken up by private build
ers. so that houses may now be
bought for s2,650, with monthly pay
ments of s26.50, he said.
j. Bernard Wyckoff. president of
the association. detailed efforts of
the organization toward alienation
of housing distress. Washington, he
said, lis a city of high rents. based
on high land values and floating
population. with resulting specula-
ton IL real estate"
"As in few other cities" he added,
washington people have sold the
idea of home ownership. with too
little consideration for the fact that
home ownership may be for manv of
our present residents luxury they
cannot afford. This has helped
create a shortage, too long ignored
here. of houses to rent to a floating
popula ton of families of moderate
though assured means"
Increased operations of the WASH
ington Navy Yard gun factory, the
torpedo station at Alexandria, the
magazine at Bellevue and the MODEL
basin at Carderock has brought the
necessity for at least 3.444 housing
units. and the need is urgent" Rear
Admiral George Pettingill, COM
mandant of the Navy Yard, de-
clared.
In speech read by Comdr. David
H. Stuart, Admiral Pettingill de-
clared that the need for providing
Navy housing for men in skilled
trades who were brought here from
other sections of the country was
great, because if proper housing is
unobtainable they soon become dis
satisfied and resign"
Temporary Housing Suggested.
Jacob Crane. assistant defense
housing co-ordinator for the Ma
tional Defense Commission, spoke of
the possibility of using temporary
housing where conditions warranted
their use
In some situations" he said,
permanent houses may be built for
temporary defense needs and used
to replace slums later on. In other
instances, demountable houses may
be used; that is, houses built to de-
cent standards now and constructed
so that they can be taken down,
transported and re-erected at small
cost. Such houses could be moved
to other towns. to rural areas. or to
places for special use in connection
with recreation facilities or for
housing of the families of migratory
workers"
Outlining work of his organization
among the numerous organizations,
he said that private builders have
reserved for them the job of pro-
vldlng housing for families with in
comes of s1,500 year and up. To
the United States Housing Author
lty and local housing authorities he
assigned the low-income housing:
defense housing, of uncertain dura-
ton, is the job of the Army, Navy,
the Federal Works Agency and sim
liar groups.
Washington's Alley Dwelling Au-
thority supplements and does not
conflict with private enterprise, John
1hloer, executive officer, declared.
1T is an interesting fact" he said,
that whenever the Authority builds,
private builders soon begin con.
struction in the immediate neigh
borhood." Instead of being fright.
ened away, as was prophesied when
ne first began" he added, they
have been attracted.