The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-10-23

| inounced program of the National Housing Agency to provide addi- tional housing units for war indus | try workers in New England through governmental leasing of privately owned homes is already well under way in New England, according to John M. DobEs, re- 1 gional representative for the MIA.
 Establishment of field offices in the five New England designated cities where serious housing con- ditions exist is currently in process. Upon completion of these field op erating units the conversion of pri- vately- homes to accommo- , date war workers in these crowded cities will begin immediately.
 Home Use Program
 To organize and carry out the governmental lease plan, known as the Hcmes Use Program, MT. Dcbbs announced the appointment of James A. Urich. former administra- tive assistant to the Boston Hous- ing Authority and well-known New England housing executive. MT. Urich will set up the Homes Use Division of MIA in New England and establish War Housing Centers in Bridgeport, Hartford and New Britain, Connecticut; Portland, Maine; and Springfield, Massachu- sets. The regional office of the Homes Use Division will be located at 24 School street, Boston.
 '"The function of the war hous- l aAar Ia tA cations submitted by owners of homes in the critical areas which meet certain basic qualifications said MT. Dobbs. Homes that can be converted into additional living accommodations speedily and with a minimum use of critical materials, located within reasonable transpor- tation distance of war industries, and where conversion is permissible under zoning laws, would be the most desirable properties. Vacant houses, and those with large amount of unused space, will, of course, be the types favored" he said.
 Satisfactory Income
 "In specific locations where these basic qualifications are met the gov ernment, through the National Housing Agency, will pay the owners satisfactory income, remodel their properties at government expense, rent and manage the converted properties at government expense, rent and manage the converted properties for the duration of the war, and then return them to their owners as income producing proper ties within reasonable period at the termination of hostilities."
 we wish to make this point clear" continued MT. Dobbs, "that this conversion program is entirely voluntary on the part of the prop erty owner. The government is neither billeting nor commandeer- ing in this program at the present time. It remains for the home owner to submit his application for leasing the property for the dura- ton SO that war workers may ob- tain sanitary and adequate living accommodations for the successful prosecution of the war effort.
 "This is just one phase of the MIA operations" the MIA official pointed out. "The MIA will in- tensify its drive to induce home owners to lease their homes for the duration of the war, and at the same time will continue new con- struction programing in defense areas. The demand for war hous- ing accommodations, that cannot possibly be supplied by new con- struction in adequate time to keep abreast of the tremendous industrial expansion. will be met through the Homes Use Program"
 Conversion Program
 "rhe new conversion program in no way substitutes for the vast amount of conversion of properties that can be accomplished through the use of private funds and through the FILA home conversion plan of insurance. It is our inten- tion to continue to encourage a maximum amount of home conver- sion through the use of private banks and lending institutions in all the New England States. A great many cities in the New Eng land region will not be eligible to participate in the Homes Use Pro- gram and therefore the MIA urges private industry and private financ- ing to sponsor the conversion pro- gram in these areas and thereby CO., operate with single purpose in the great war effort.
 within 8 short time the National Housing Agency will announce the location of War Housing Center of- fees in the cities mentioned above. Following this announcement it is planned that property owners in the specific locations mentioned, who have homes meeting the basic quail hcations and suitable for conversion, will contact these local centerS and make application for leasing their properties. The alteration work and management of these properties will be passed on to the Home Own- CTS Loan Corporation after agree ment has been reached with the | na-a