Evening star., 1943-09-13
War Housing
Program Here
Seen Completed
MIA Plans Drive
To Obtain Tenants
For Vacant Units

10 ODtQIn enQHtS
For Vacant Units
BY JOHN T. LUTER.
New housing units have been COM
pleted in such quantity here within
the past few months that it is
likely no more war housing projects
will be authorized for Washington
and its suburban areas
This was indicated today by re-
gional officials of the National
Housing Agency, while at the same
time. Marvin Wire, director of the
War Housing Center, disclosed plans
for a "promotional campaign" to
obtain tenants for recently COM
pleted housing units that are now
standing vacant.
The "promotional campaign" will
take the form of an exhibit at the
War Housing Center, located at
Fourteenth street and Pennsylvania
avenue NV. Pictures and drawings
OF the projects at which living quar-
ters, are available to eligible war
workers will be posted, along with
information about the accommoda-
tions and directions for reaching
them.
Trips to Projects.
AS further step, housing coun
sellors from the various Government
agencies will be taken this week on
trips to the public, and perhaps a
few outstanding private, projects
Where units are vacant. Purpose of
this tour will be to acquaint the
housing counsellors with the facili-
ties offered, so that they will have
full information to give to eligible
Government employees who apply to
them for housing.
The MIA predicted there will be
no difficulty filling the existing va
cancies. but indicated that it be-
lieves the housing completed in the
last few months and that now in the
planning stage, will be sufficient to
meet the needs of the war workers
who are eligible to occupy war hous-
ing.
The heavy flow OF war workers
into this area now has been reduced
10 a trickle, and Government en-
ployment Is fairly stable" it was
pointed out. No additional construc-
ton is likely to be authorized unless
Government hiring policies change
so as to increase the influx of war
workers.
Report on Programs.
The housing program for white
families has reached a peak of COM
pletions during August and this
month, the MIA said. Some addi-
tional units will be opened to tenants
during the remaining months of the
year, but by the early part Of 1914.
the war housing program for white
occupants will be almost entirely
completed, with only an insignifi-
cant number of new accommoda-
tions coming on the market after
that time.
The construction of war housing
for Negro families has not vet
reached its peak, but the MIA indi-
Gated that it probably will not au-
thorize any units Of this type other
than those that already have been
announced.
Though the shortage Of housing
Tor Negroes still is critical here. the
MIA pointed out that about GOO
units will be completed by private
builders by the end of the year.
About 500 privately financed and
100 publicly financed conversions of
existing houses also are under way
to provide additional space for COL
ored families. it was pointed out.
In addition, the MIA said every
effort is being made to speed the
construction of 5000 new housing
units for Negroes, which were an
nounced two weeks ago. Most of
these Accommodations will be ready
for occupancy in the first five
months of next year, and with
their completion, the housing needs
OF Negro war workers should be pro-
vlded for, the agency indicated.
Plans Called FLEXIBLE"
The MIA emphasized, however,
that its plans are flexible" If
after housing already authorized has
been completed, surveys show a need
for additional Accommodations for
Immigrant" war workers, the addi-
tional construction can and prob
ably will be approved, officials said.
One tentative plan that may be
put into effect after the first of the
year is for a campaign by the War
Housing Center, which would urge
the sharing of housing accomoda-
tions with war workers.
The MAS belief that housing al
ready authorized will meet the needs
Of eligible war workers is based on
a survey made by the Bureau of
Labor Statistics, which indicated a
backlog demand In June for about
10000 units for white families and
3,340 units for Negroes.
BY the last of this month, living
quarters completed since the first of
June will total an estimated 10000
units for white families. During the
same time, an estimated 1900 will
have been completed for Negro war
worker families. This Is more new
housing than has been placed on
the rental market during any cor
responding period since the war
began.
Private Building Units.
OF the 10000 units for white oc-
cupancy, private builders opened 600
units for occupancy in June, 300 in
July, and an estimated 1900 last
month. An additional 1,700 pri-
vately constructed units are expected
to be ready for tenants by the end
Of the current month.
The remainder of the new accom-
modations for white families, built
with public funds, were completed
as follows: 1900 units in June, 1900
in July and about 2,100 in August.
An estimated 1900 other units are
scheduled to be finished by the end
Of September.
Meanwhile, 400 public housing
units for Negro families were COM
pleted in June, and 300 in July, with
the two-month total for August and
Serten1her exDected to reocb Am