Evening star., 1940-01-14
Absence Of Child
Delinquency Noted
In u. 5. H. A. Survey
Longston Courts Here
Cited by Strous os
Typical Example

Contrasted with conditions in ur-
ban slums, survey conducted
among the 10000 children of 25,-
900 low-income families residing
now in the public housing projects
of the United States Housing Au-
thority disclosed yesterday a wiz
tual absence of juvenile delinquency,
injuries from traffic accidents and
misdemeanors among the adults.
Langston Courts, in Washington,
where reside 274 colored families
removed from substandard homes,
was cited by Administrator Nathan
Straus as typical example. Frank
lin Torne, manager of the project.
reported there had been no case of
juvenile delinquency brought to
his attention during the 20 months
residence Of these families.
The survey report said that in
Washington it was found at u per
cent of all juvenile probationers
come from crowded or congested
dwellings. In Richmond, Va, it was
stated, so per cent of the delin-
quency occurs among 81 per cent
Of the juvenile population which
is housed in the slums. Similar
conditions were found in Chicago,
Detroit, Miami and other cities.
Rate VIRTUALLY Zero"
The juvenile delinquency rate
was reported as virtually zero" in
1899 among the children in the IA
projects built by the U. S. H. A. in
nine cities and the Al projects built
by the P. w. A. in "a cities that
are now operated by the Federal
Authority. Few If any traffic acci-
dents were reported in the streets
OF the projects, some of which
house several thousand persons.
This record is convincing proof
that slum clearance pays dividends
in human as well as in economic
values" Mr.. Straus said.
local governments spend mil
lions of dollars every year in fight
ing the evil consequences of the
slums. Today's delinquents often
turn out to be tomorrows crooks
and gangsters. The National Pro-
baton Association estimates that
no less than IS per cent of all GRIM
inals began their delinquent be-
havior as youngsters.
1T costs money to maintain tru-
ant officers, social workers, police,
reform schools and jails. If the
necessity for these services can be
reduced to minimum through the
provision Of decent homes in place
OF slums, local governments save
money.
In the U. S. H. A. program the
beneficial effects of good housing on
the reduction of juvenile delin-
quency have been supplemented by
including Fairgrounds, community
centers and other recreational and
educational opportunities in housing
projects. In most cities these serv-
ices are being provided in co-opera-
ton with municipal and private
agencies. The active cooperation
OF tenants in this work is one of the
noteworthy Developments"
Langston Families No Problem.
The 274 families lodged in Lanes-
ton Courts on Benning road NE.
present no police problem to the
city, it was said. There have been
no arrests or fires and the only
traf1ic accident occurred when an
auto fender was bumped" the man
ager said.
Although the U. S. H. A. survey
gave no figures on infant mortality
In connection with public housing
reports, the rate at Langston was
said to be zero. Births have been
at the rate of two a MONTH" Mr.,
Thorne said, land there hasn't been
a single death. Forty babies have
been born at Langston in the 20
months since the project was opened
for occupancy.
Langston has total population
of 899.
In Miami the absence of juvenile
delinquency in a project housing
243 colored families was commented
upon favorably by Judge w. H.
Berkham of the Juvenile and Do
mestic Relations Court. During the
three years of tenancy, Judge Berk-
ham said, not single case of juven-
lie delinquency has reached his
court from this project.