Evening star., 1942-11-21
; Federal Residences
For Women Scheduled
To Open in January
Priorities May Delay
Projects for Housing
More Than ! 500

Buildings at three Federal resi-
dences for women war workers here
are expected to be completed in
January and should be ready for
occupancy by the end of the month,
Federal Works Agency announced
today.
The three projects. where the first
dormltories are scheduled to be
completed between January l and
Is, are at Arlington, Va; West Po-
tomac Park and Langstron Stadium,
the last for colored Government
employees.
First building, which will house
800 women, at Arlington is slated
for completion January 6, while a
second structure there may be fin
lshed January Is. The two struc-
lures at West Potomac Park and
Langston are expected to be finished
around January Is.
FWA stressed, however, that de-
lays may be encountered because
OF priorities, although it expected
that each building will be available
for women within two weeks of its
completion.
Largest in Arlington.
The first structure at West Poto-
mac Park will house about $50 Fed
eral employees, while Langston's first
dormitory will accommodate 400
women, FWA said. Largest single
project is at Arlington where an
eventual 1000 women workers will
be accommodated.
William J. Bissell, recently given
leave of absence as manager of
International House in New York
City to head the Federal residences
for women, here, yesterday termed
the dormltories one of the largest
projects of its kind. He spoke at a
luncheon meeting of the USO Wom-
ems Committee and Government
personnel directors in the YWCA
building,
Other residences planned here will
be erected at East Potomac PAX
1000 women; East Capitol and
Twenty fourth streets, 800; Suit
land, Nd, 800. The West Potomac
Park eventually will afford accom-
modations for 1900, and Langston,
1000.
Mr.. Bissell explained that only
women employed in the Federal
Government will be eligible to live
at one of the dormitories, and that
preference will be given persons who
lived outside the Washington Met
ropolltan Area prior to July /, 1941.
Includes S1,S00 Glass.
He pointed out that those who
have lived here prior to that date
and have lost their living accom-
modations through no fault of their
own and are unable to find other
accommodations within reasonable
distance of their work" also will be
given preference.
The residences, he said, are for
those whose base pay is up to and
including $1,000 annually, "although
a few above this grade may be ac-
cepted when desire to be of service
is expressed and leadership indi-
Gated" If the demand for rooms is
not sufficient to take up all the
rooms, Mr., Bissell said, then other
Government employees will be con-
sidered.
I'VE are definitely obligated to
provide decent, clean places for
these girls to live, and we canont
escape the assumption of the corol-
larry responsibility, up to certain
point, for their physical and mental
we'll being in order that they may
be in the best condition to do the
work they are in Washington to ac-
complish," he declared.
Accordingly, he said. recreation
centers are to be provided at each
project. I'VE want to make the dor
mitories a place where women will
live because they want to and not
because they have to-"