Evening star., 1942-05-24
BY JAMES Y. NEWTON.


The outlook for war housing was
so dark yesterday because of dwin-
ding supplies of essential materials
that War Production Board off,
cial told The Star he wouldn't
give 2 cents for all the housing pro-
grammed."
Housing of any permanent char
acter is out of the picture for the
duration of the war both locally
and nationally, he said. Perma-
nent projects already started such
as Defense Homes Corps Mclean
Gardens. Seminary Heights and
other huge developments may be
halted The w. P. B. official said
1t was extremely doubtful If such
projects will be completed.
The answer to the problem OF
housing war workers, the official
continued. is in the erection of bar
racks and the billeting of workers
in private homes. Discussions Of
billeting generally have considered
a drive for voluntary cooperation
from home owners. Some thought,
however. has been given the posi-
bility of asking Congress to enact
billeting law.
Deadlocked on Question.
In view of the seriousness Of the
materials shortage, it seemed un-
likely that housing officials would
be allowed to erect family accommo-
dations here under the Lanham bill
even if Congress should appropriate
/ the funds for it, The House and
Senate currently are deadlocked on
the question of appropriating sl3,-
10000 for 5000 additional family
dwelling units in metropolitan
Washington.
! The National Housing Agency was
reported revising its entire housing
program, re-eXamining all projects
| to determine the ones which can
be eliminated without undue dislo-
cation of war effort and changing
/ specifications to use less critical ma
/ terials. Early last week the Federal
/ Works Agency announced it was
engaged in applying the same pro-
cess to war public works projects.
The Washington program for water
works, sewers, hospitals, schools, etc,
was under close scrutiny and held
likely to be trimmed.
The Federal Public Housing Au-
thority, charged with carrying out
most of the Government housing
program under the National Hous-
ing Agency, reported projects lagg-
ing in vital defense areas over the
country for lack of materials.
Some war plants have no housing
in sight. for the F. H. A. was not
only short on materials but short
on money. A spokesman for the
Authority said Congress would be
asked soon to appropriate an addi-
tional $500, 900 900 to 5000 900 900 for
housing over the country. The last
Lanham national appropriation of
$500, 900 900, made in January, has
been allocated. for projects now un-
der way. A total of $50,0O0,O 900 of
that amount was given to the Army
for housing.
Eight Centers Named.
Reports of hold up of vital hous-
ing constantly are coming into the
F. P. H. A. Office, the spokesman
said He named eight Of the coun-
try's important war production CEN
ters as being most affected by ma
terial shortages. Asked what ma
terial was causing the delay, he re-
piled: practically every material"
The lumber crisis last week, he
said, was only an aggravation of
an already bad situation.
The official described new alu-
minum plant in Arkansas with prac-
tically no housing, and no money
for it. A bomber plant in Texas
needed 5000 housing units, but
there are no funds. A sewer has
been run out to the plant from
nearby city, but it is not large
enough to take care of housing.
New Orleans was reported need
ing from $4,000 to 100000 workers
for its new shipyards. The official
said there is not a room to be had
in the city, and prospects for only