Evening star., 1941-02-22
DefenseHousi1g
Registry Setup
Is Perfected 4;
Building Equipped,
Project Awaits
w. P. A. Go Signal

A go-ahead signal from the Works
Project Administration was all that
was needed today to set in motion
a Defense Housing Registry set up
by the District Defense Council TO
help defense workers find suitable
living quarters here.
Although it is far ahead Of other
cities in planning a comprehensive
housing program, the local council
has been forced to postpone In
auguration of its housing registry
while awaiting approval of a w. P.
A. project providing clerical per-
sonnel for its operation.
The registry, designed to serve as
central listing bureau for houses,
apartments and rooms available for
renting, will be located on the first
floor of the building at 458 Indiana
avenue NV, which formerly served
as headquarters for the Marine
Corps Reserve.
The building already has been
renovated. Furniture has been pur-
chased and typewriters, files, ETC.,
have been provided. But the prof.
ect cannot be started until w. P. A.
provides the personnel, according to
the Subcommittee on Housing of the
Councils Committee On Housing,
Works and Facilities.
W.. A. to Supply Personnel.
All of the registry personnel will
be drawn from w. P A. rolls with
the exception of the director, whose
salary will be paid by private in
terestS, it was said. 1t is understood
the director has been chosen, but
no announcement has been made
yet.
Lawrence E. Williams, chairman
of the subcommittee, which has per-
fected plans for operation of the
Defense Housing Registry, said to-
day he had been advised the project
would be approved by w. P. A.
sometime this week"
THE week is almost over" he add
ed, but we're hopeful OF getting
started next week
Serving as a nucleus for the reg
istry are the more than 1000 rooms
which were registered by the Board
of Trade prior to the influx Of in
auguration visitors here last month.
AS soon as the registry is put in
operation, the city's home and apart
ment house owners and real estate
agencies will be asked to pool their
lists of dwelling units available for
renting in the files at the Indiana
avenue headquarters.
Listing of Single Rooms Sought.
An appeal will be made to the
public to register single rooms, Mr..
Williams said, pointing out that a
home owner may have two roomers
without having his home classified
as a rooming house. If more than
two roomerS are accommodated, the
home comes under the rooming
house requirements of the zoning
regulations. and such rooming
houses can be operated only in GER
tain areas.
In this connection the Housing
Subcommittee has set up minimum
standards for houses, apartments
and rooms to be listed in the regis
try. If the vacancies do not meet
these standards, they will not be
included in the registry.
For rooming houses, these require
mentS are:
A responsible" resident manager.
Compliance with District laws
concerning fire escapes, fire extin-
guishers, elevators and hall lighting.
Compliance with laws regarding
bath and toilet facilities.
Size of rooms; For a room with
one bed, a minimum of 70 square
feet of floor space; for two beds, l40
square feet; for three beds, 200
square feet; for four beds, 260
square feet, and for additional beds,
so square feet per bed.
Ceiling Height Requirement.
Compliance with code require
ments for ceiling height.
Have at least one window opening
for at least half it's area facing on
street, yard or court (but no air.
shaft.
Have facilities sufficient to main
tain a temperature of 65 degrees.
The rooms will be graded good,
fair or bad, and those placed in the
third classification would be con-
Sidered below minimum standards.
Conditions which would cause a
house or apartment to be rejected
are: Buildings Structurally unsafe,
buildings which violate fire regula-
tions. windowless rooms, ktchenette
without proper ventilation, bath,
toilet or kitchen shared with more
than one other family, and, lastly,
filth.
In the case of houses or apart
ments lacking adequate heating
facilities, indoor water supply or
indoor toilet, the subcommittee said
it would not consider the property
to be below minimum standards be-
cause of these shortcomings, but
would list full information concern
ing those facts on the registry rec
ord of the property and bring this
to the attention of the applicant.
Rooms to be Inspected.
According to the plans outlined
by Mr.. Williams. the rooms SUBJ
mitted to the registry will be in
spected by voluntary workers under
the direction of Mrs. Helen Duey
Hoffman, executive officer Of the
Washington Housing Association,
who is also a member of the Defense
Council. These volunteers will be
drawn from the Young Women's
Christian Association, the Jewish
Community Center, the Associated
Catholic Charities and similar or
ganizatlons.
The apartment and home inspec-
tions will be conducted by workers
from the Alley Dwelling Authority
under the supervision of that
agency's executive officer, John
Ihlder.
However, Mr.. Williams pointed out
that home inspections will be lin
tied to those renting for less than
$50 month, and apartment inspec-