Evening star., 1941-01-07
Housing Shortages
Regarded as Worst
Since Last War
Defense Drive Brings
Grave Problems for
Some Cities
BY FRANK MacMILLEN,
Associated Press Business Writer,


the late '2Os, the roaring de-
fenSe industries have brought hous-
ing shortages in some parts of the
country worse than anything seer
since the last war
A national survey by the Asso-
ciated Press today found authorities
in some cities which are keys to the
armament drive using phrases like
these to describe housing conditions
"A crisis by June"
appalling shortage of houses"
This section is short 10000
homes"
Need added housing, sanitary
and street facilities"
Coastal cities, especially small and
medium sized towns, where ship
building for a two-ocean navy and
an expanded merchant marine DOM
mate the industrial scene, appeared
to be the worst sufferers. Commu-
mites near big Army and Navy
training centers also in many cases
reported great need for homes.
Situation Varies.
In the large manufacturing CEN
ters the situation was less uniform,
though such defense localities as
Pittsburgh, Bridgeport, Conn; Phil
adelphia, the Hampton Roads area
of Virginia and San Francisco all
indicated situations ranging from
bad" to acute"
In most of the cities where condi-
tions we're worst however, Govern
ment housing projects were re-
ported under way or planned, though
some localities indicated programs
of the present proportion, even when
completed, would still leave too few
homes for the rising tide OF workers.
But until these large-scale homes
are ready, some of them many
months from now, there are locali-
ties where the defense effort is def
nitely being retarded by insufficient
shelter.
Migratory and trailer camps, and
daily communication from long dis
tences by automobile are unsatisfac-
tory stop-gapS in some localities.
The Federal Government has
homes for 28,527 families under way
il 20 States at present, and Presl-
fnnt Roosevelt yesterday approved
e."S additional family units. OF the
letter, however, about half are in
C"r outlying possessions and bases.
r least 10000 more units are
r'@nned by the United States Hous-
ing Authority
Vast Need Apparent.
The extent of the problem is in
{ -ated, however, by the fact that
in the Virginia ship building area
a'9ne. it is estimated, there is lack
C. some 10000 homes; the city OF
F'7ils delphia is estimated to require
e. 900 new dwellings for defense
workers and their families, and ad-
ditional thousands at numerous
other centers lift the total further.
Private construction In many
areas has been turning out dwellings
side by side with Federal projects,
but the President has designated IL
districts in which he has decided
that private building was inadequate
to the need
Here are a few highlights Of the
more than three-score cities and
towns covered by the survey:
SAN FRANCISCO-State Divi-
sion Of immigration and Housing
says there is a rush of industrial
migrants" to trailer camps, making
conditions as to sanitation, croWding,
etc. almost as bad as the previous
agricultural migrants" Thousands
are f1ocking into shacks and novels
and overcrowding apartment and
hotel facilities. A private contractor
is building 1000 homes for Mare Is
and Navy Yard.
Shortage Is appalling"
PHILADELPHIA - President of
City Housing Authority says zap
palling shortage of houses" will
seriously hamper" city's contribu-
ton to national defense. Advisory
Council on Education estimates 60
900 new homes needed for defense
workers. Navy has asked for 1000
unit project partly to care for several
hundred families living in trailers
near navy yard.
PORTSMOUTH, N. H.-Navy yard
survey shows area short 1000 homes,
with projects under way promising
only half that number. Less than SO
per cent of navy yard workers live
in Porthmouth, many committing
from Maine and Massachusetts,
towns as far as so to 80 miles away.
WICHITA, Kans.-No home short
age despite growth in employment
in plane factories from 1900 year
ago to 5000 now and estimated 49,
600 by late summer.
SEATTLE.-Local Housing Au-
thority predicts crisis by June. Gov
ernment may have to step in to
supply homes. Same situation at
Bremerton and Tacoma.
BATH, Me.-Housing facilities
taxed to limit, but so far neighboring
towns absorbing overflow. New ship
yard building at South Portland has
increased rents, may present hous-
ing problem later when 1000 go to
work
HAMPTON ROADS, Va.-Lack
5000 to 10000 homes in this Ship
building area. Newport News Ship
building says expansion of pay roll
beyond present $4,000 men hinges on
houses for workers. Housing projects
under way total SIT 100000.
Rents Rise Sharply.
COLUMBUS, Ga.-House rents up
80 to so per cent, hotels packed due
to expansion at nearby Fort Ben
ming.
PITTSBURGH.-Housing admin
istrator reports very definite" home
shortage here and nearby, says it
may become as acute as 1917, when
individual bedrooms were listed for
workers. About S33 900 900 housing
projects under way or finished re-
Gently in this vicinity.
ROCK ISLAND, Ill.-Here and at
Moline, ILL.,, and at Davenport, Iowa,
nearby Rock Island arsenal boom
causing continuing housing short
age. More than $4,000 600 is being