Evening star., 1942-01-12
Funds for DC.
Homes for War
Workers Sought
Palmer Hopes to Get
Lunhum Act Money
For Projects

Declaring that the housing situa-
ton in and near the District is
Every serious" Federal Housing Co.
ordinator c. F. Palmer today ap-
pealed to Chairman Randolph Of
the House District Committee to aid
him in having the Lanham Defense
Housing Act amended so some of the
5000, 900 900 appropriation it author
ICES can be used to build homes for
Government war workers.
Mr.. Palmer pointed out that fam
lily housing accommodations are
virtually negligible. and that even
with the help of the private build
ing industry, it will not be possible
to meet the housing needs of the
steadily mounting increase in Gov
ernment employees.
Meanwhile, citizens planning to
answer the Commissioners appeal
to rent living quarters to war work.
ers were advised to wait until next
Monday before listing their vacant
rooms with the District Defense
Housing Registry.
Lawrence E. Williams, chairman
OF the Housing Committee of the
District Defense Council, said the
registry expects to be established by
that time In new quarters con-
structed especially for it in front of
the District Building at Fourteenth
street and Pennsylvania avenue
NV.
Palmer's Letter Quoted.
In letter to Representative Ran
dolph. Mr.. Palmer said:
"l. Employees now flocking into
the District for essential war duties
cannot be provided for under the
Lanham Defense Housing Act. AL
though such provision was in
cluded in the War Housing Act of
1918, the present act. as applicable
to governmental employees. only
covers employees of the Navy and
War Departments assigned to duty
at reservations. posts or bases. such
as the Navy Yard, Walter Reed
Hospital and similar stations. but
excludes the tens of thousands of
workers at the War and Navy De-
partments' headquarters. as we'll as
those in other governmental agen-
cies.
THE Senate version of H. r. 6128.
now pending before the Conference
Committee. seeks to include all en-
ployes of the United States whose
duties are essential to the national
defense as was done in the World
War. I understand that some men,
bers Of the House, while recognizing
the urgent need, feel disinclined to
adopt this simple amendment which
would permit us to make appro-
pirate plans.
90. After careful and continuous
study of housing needs in and about
the District of Columbia, we have
produced a report, recently ap-
proved, which indicates that for the
18 months ending July, 1912, 10000
new governmental employees will
have come to Washington, which,
with the expansion of non-govern-
mental employment, will mean an
influx of $4,000 workers. of whom
approximately 10000 will bring their
families and the remainder will be
single persons. These estimates
were based upon figures gathered
prior to the existence of state OF
war and do not give effect to un-
doubted further expansion OF nu-
merous governmental war agencies.
Vacancy Ratio Under Per Cent.
LAS against this tremendous in
creased demand, and in spite OF
housing construction during 1910
exceeding all previous records, rental
vacancies have declined to less than
/ per cent, with total of only 760
family rental units available for
rent. AS you know, gross vacancy
ratio of under per cent is generally
regarded as indicating an acute
housing situation. The vacancy ratio
In Washington indicates that avail
able family housing accommodate
are practically negligible.
Our program contemplates that,
by the utmost effort and co-opera-
ton between private building in
dustry and the Government, 1880
units may be produced during the
IL months starting July, 1912, which
figure represents the maximum
potential capacity of the private
home building industry, and is ap-
proximately the same figure as was
produced the previous year, which,
as stated before, far exceeded any
r,reviol1s similar period
I'VE further contemplate the con-
struction Of $500 family dwelling
units and $500 units for single per-
sons primarily girls) by Defense
Homes Corp. a subsidiary of r. F. c.
There still remains, even after
this huge effort, a need for approx
imately $500 dwelling units for the
rental ranges that can only be sup
plied by governmental funds. The
I.anham Defense Housing Act is an
existing and appropriate instrument
for this purpose"
s. Rent Registry Busy.
{ Anticipating a greatly increased
rolume of business to result from the
Commissioners special appeal, the
Housing Committee is doubling the
present telephone facilities for the
new registry Office so that nstings
ma be handled efficiently.
The registry has an ample supply
of vacant room Istings to take care
OF requests received this week, but
is not in a position to handle a
heavy rush OF new istings at its
present quarters at 458 Indiana
avenue NV, Mr.. WillicrlG explained
in requesting home ovrc-s to post
pone calling until next Monday.
Coincident with the opening of
the new headquarters, the Housing
Committee plans to inaugurate an
intensize campaign in cooperation
with the ONCE for Emergency Man
agement and the defense housing
co-ordinator' of1ce to add to its
vacant room Istings.
1000 to 10000 Goal.
From the more than 250, 900 hous-
ing units-apartments and homes
In the District, the registry hopes
to get q minimum Of 1000 to 10000
additional rooms to rent to defense
N,orArAre nvv,arto ~ ~ kn oddad IN ftA