Evening star., 1941-02-18
Shortage in Suburban
Housing More Critical
Than in Capital
Survey for Co-ordinutor
Cites New Vacancies in
Nearby Regions

The housing shortage in suburban
Virginia and Maryland is even worse
than the critical" situation in
Washington, according to a survey
made by the w. P. A. for the de-
fenSe housing co-ordinator.
While 19 per cent of the dwelling
units in Washington were found
habitable and for rent in a similar
study released last week, only about
900-or IS per cent-of the habit
able units in nearby communities
were available, the Work Projects
Administration survey released to-
day showed.
Many Held for Sale.
A larger proportion of houses was
vacant in nearby areas than in the
District, the w. P. A. survey discov-
cred but this was attributed mainly
to the fact that many unocCupied
suburban houses are held for sale
only.
Meanwhile, contracts for two low
cost housing projects in Alexandria,
to cost more than s765 900, have
been approved by the United States
Housing Authority.
A total of 240 homes at two sites
is provided for in the projects, with
construction expected to begin about
March 10. The work is scheduled to
be completed within nine months.
Both jobs went to Martin Bros,
Washington contractors. on recon-
mendation of the Alexandria Hous-
ing Authority.
One project, to be known as John
Roberts Homes, will provide 100
homes for white persons on a site
at West street and Braddock road.
The dwellings will be one-story flats
in two-Story row houses. The bid
for this project was S433459.
for colored persons. will be two-story
fats in row houses five blocks from
the center of Alexandria. A total of
ITO houses will be provided at a
cost of 1892 ,397. Boundaries for the
dwellings will be Fairfax. Royal,
Princess and Pendleton streets.
The United States Housing Au-
thority announced that $40 workers
will be employed on the two prof.
ectS.
Available dwellings totaled less
than l per cent in Montgomery
County, Md, with the rate rising
to 16 in Arlington County, Va, and
to 2.8 per cent in Alexandria. Aver
age rentals ranged from SIS monthly
in Falls Church, Va, and $65 in
Montgomery County to $4250 in
Prince Georges County, Md. Me-
dian rent was $50, the same as for
the District. Only 39 per cent OF
the habitable rental vacancies in
nearby sections were listed for less
than $50 monthly, and less than III
rented for less than $40.
Rooms in Dwellings Surveyed.
About 5000 rooms are for rent in
dwellings occupied by white families
in and near Washington, the survey
showed; the total in colored- d-occupied
houses totaled approximately 1,00C
in the District, with very few
available in the surveyed areas near
the city.
While a considerable number OF
dwelling units were reported to be
under construction in Alexandria
and Arlington and Prince Georges
Counties, virtually no rental units
are at present under construction in
Montgomery County" it was stated
To relieve the situation in the
Washington area, Defense Housing
Co-ordinator c. F. Palmer has allo-
Gated funds for more than 5000
additional dwelling units and many
of these are nearing completion. All
available rooms and apartments have
been registered.
Moreover, there is now pending
before Congress a request for more
funds which would provide for shell
ter for single persons as well as
family groups. Mr.. Palmer said that
If the money is authorized, the criti-
cal situation here will be alleviated,
even if it is necessary to construct
temporary shelters.
Even If experience from the last
war had not demonstrated the neces-
sity for desperate measures to pre-
vent the overcrowding which con-
tributed to the spread of disease u
said Mr.. Palmer, "I would still be
aware of necessity for action in the
present situation"