Evening star., 1942-08-23
How D. T.. Area Could
House $4,000 More
Shown in Survey
Every a Rooms in City
Would Be Used by
Three Persons

Approximately $4,000 additional
persons could be housed in the
Washington Metropolitan Area if
total room space were utilized on
a basis of three persons for every
four rooms.
This conclusion was reached by
the Work Projects Administrations
Division of Research and Statistics
as result of sample survey made
for the National Housing Agency in
Washington, Arlington County, Va,
and Alexandria, Va, it was an
nounced yesterday. The study en-
braced a population of 100000 of
which 10000 were white and $4,000
colored
In contrast to the picture of un-
used rooms, including 32,700 bed
rooms, the survey revealed a low
vacancy rate and high proportion
of overcrowding.
Explaining this paradox, survey
officials pointed out that the hous-
ing Of $4,000 additional persons
could be achieved only II present
overcrowding continued and three
persons were placed in every four
rooms in the area surveyed.
5000 Dwellings Checked.
The survey was an enumeration
of more than 5000 dwelling units
in sample carefully selected to
represent structures in all sections
of the three communities.
The gross vacancy rate was OF per
cent, and the rental vacancy rate
04 per cent, the survey showed. Nc
vacant dwellings were reported fol-
colored persons.
Overcrowded dwelling units
those having more than IA persons
a room-made up 216 per cent OF
the dwellings for colored persons
and So per cent of the white dwell
ings, it was announced. These units
had only a. per cent of all the rooms
in the area, but were occupied by
1872 per cent of the population, ex-
elusive of persons in hotels, CONNER
cial rooming houses, housing prof.
ects and tourist camps, which were
not included in the survey.
Almost fourth or 239 per cent OF
the dwelling units for white families
and 1876 per cent of those for col
ored families were not occupied tc
capacity. Without exceeding the
formula of three persons for every
four rooms, they could have housed
$4,000 additional white persons anc
5000 additional Negroes, it wa.
stated These dwellings had three.
tenths of all the rooms in the whole
area but were occupied by only {
sixth OF the population.
Data on Use of Rooms.
Interviews with household mem
bers, the survey disclosed, indicates
, that a total of 28,500 bedrooms il
dwellings occupied by white fami
lies were not currently used a
sleeping rooms In units occupie
by colored families. about 4,200 bed
rooms were not used for sleepin
quarters. Many of these bedroom
were being used for other purpose
and some were not furnished wit
l beds at the time of the survey.
7 Only $500 of the 32,700 bedroom
t in occupied dwellings, however wer
!, offered for rent. These rooms we1
t expected to accommodate 9,7(
l roomers. About -eighths {
t the rooms for rent were in dwell
ings occupied by white families, an
e the remainder we're available
colored households.
y Three questions were asked b
S those who M de the survey:
y /. How mc/y rooms are availabl
for rent and how many persons ca
\ they accommodate?
n O. How many bedrooms are avail
S able that are not being used fc
: sleeping purposes?
h g. How many rooms are availab
for all purposes?
Survey AnaIyzed.
Several inferences can be mac
from the sample survey, it WE
pointed out. The first is that
race is on between new arriva
and new housing construction
n Whether the influx of war worker
III | dG Gil toGaA vi oiOOO Cdt
It month, will absorb entirely Il
l. housing units now nearing compl
It ton, or whether present overcrow'
ing in some areas may be relieve
Ir by additional facilities are questio
= on which survey officials refused
= comment, other than to admit Il
race is not matter of dispute.
is Washington residents who ha
: lived here number of years we
" accustomed to good deal of spat
S. it was explained. With the influx
n, war workers many home owners ha
l. been reluctant to rent spare room
ID A third conclusion that could
r reasonably inferred from the 81
es vey, it was said by housing off1cia
h, Is that newcomers seeking fe