Evening star., 1942-10-18
Government 10 Lease
District Homes in
War Housing Program
Report Shows 1886 Units
Built, 22,22S Started,
20,730 More Scheduled
BY CARTER BROOKE JONES.

[VsI ~ NOIS SCHSOulSQ
BY CARTER BROOKE JONES.
In the face of housing short
age which admittedly will con-
front Washington in spite of all
the construction for war workers
under way or scheduled, the
National Housing Agency an
nouncedtyesterday plans to lease
private homes and remodel them
to provide maximum space for
Federal employees.
MIA, in progress report, dis
closed that 1886 dwelling units in
the Metropolitan Area had been
completed by the Government or
private interests, that 22,223 units
were under construction and another
20,730 scheduled to start soon. But
all this housing, the agency con-
ceded, will not provide the space
needed, nor was it ever intended to.
Willard F. Day, regional represen-
tative of MIA, said in a formal state
ment:
"As is other overcrowded war &C
tlvity centers, we must depend on
existing housing to care for large
portion of the load. Shortages Of
critical materials, labor, transporta-
ton and utilities make this impera-
tive.
ITO that end, the MIA is in
augurating supplementary pro-
gram under which the Government
will lease private homes and remodel
them to provide additional living
units for war workers and their
families
The MIA announcement gave no
details of the plans to lease private
homes. but it was learned that, for
the present at least, these trans
actions will be entirely on a volun-
tary basis Home owners who are
willing to lease their houses and have
them remodeled will list them with
the Government, and prices and
other details will be negotiated. if
the building and site are considered
suitable.
But a spokesman for the housing
agency added:
IF this plan fails to bring suffi-
cient results. and critical materials
still are so short that we are unable
to build enough dwellings, we may
have to requisition homes. In that
event, persons living in desirable To-
cations and not engaged in the war
effort may have to move and make
room for war workers. But that is
something the future will decide"
Indications are that large num-
Der of close-in homes will be leased
by the Government soon. Owners
in considerable number are expected
by housing officials to offer their
residences.
Program Reaching Peak.
/ Mr.. Day said in his report that
the war housing construction pro-
gram rapidly was reaching peak
proportions.
Public housing completed totals
4.o8l units of all types and includes
1853 permanent family dwellings
and 7l8 dormitory units. The 16,Ol5
Inlts of Government housing under
way are divided into 5,31S perman-
ent units, 842 temporary family
dwellings, 1850 permanent dor
mitory units and 1895 temporary
dormitory units.
In addition, money is available
and construction plans are COM
pleted or nearing completion for 366
permanent family units, 4,658 tenn
porary family dwellings and 7,065
temporary dormitory units.
Private builders in the Metro
politan Area" said Mr.. Day, have
| completed, with priority assistance,
6,735 family units, have 6213 under
construction and have signified their
intention of starting an additional
8,64l units.
Out of the areas total private
priorities quota of 3l.823 dwelling
units, priorities for 29,042 units al
ready have been issued. OF these,
5,453 are not going ahead but they
will be recaptured and held avail
able for reissue, making a total of
1924 units still available for private
builders here"
$4,000 Homes Completed.
MIA estimated that private in
dustry completed $4,000 dwelling
units in the area between January
/, 1910, and the time priority re-
strictions became effective in Sep
tember, 1941.
"All the new public housing" Mr..
Day pointed out, "is reserved ex-
clusively for Immigrant Govern
ment war workers, under eligibility
uAASi ~ SASl C1lSC olollId1 10 llOW UClllS
worked out with the various agencies
managing the projects. The private
housing built with priority assist
ance, which is becoming available at
the rate of about 1000 units month
now, was done under certain re-
strictions designed to make these
accommodations also available only
to war workers
OF the 33.185 public housing units
built under way or planned, 3,499
are for colored workers ana their
families. The total does not include
275 trailer units currently provided
as stop-gap housing until regular
accommodations can be completed.
In addition to all the public hous-
ing assured for the Metropolitan
Area, the report explained. money is
available for 1000 dormitory units
intended as reception center for
incoming Government workers, but