Evening star., 1943-05-14
Survey Of D. {.
Housing Needs
To Start Soon
$400,000,0 900 Asked
By President Won't
Be Used Here
BY JOHN T. LUTER.


housing needs of Government
and other war workers in this
area will begin in the next few
days, it was disclosed today by a
spokesman for the National
Housing Agency.
At the same time, the MIA official
revealed that none of the S400, 900 900
increase in funds for public war
housing, asked yesterday by Presi-
dent Roosevelt, would be spent for
projects in the District or nearby
Maryland and Virginia. The Presi-
dents request was for an increase in
appropriations under Title of the
Lanham Act. This title does not
apply to the District, which is
covered separately from the rest OF
the country under Title 4.
If the MIA decides to ask funds
for additional public housing con-
struction here, the request will be
made later and in a bill separate
from the one the President sent to
both houses of Congress yesterday
Whether additional funds will be re-
quested for this area will hinge on
results of the housing need survey
that is to be made.
Many Local Units Nearly Ready.
The MIA spokesman, in disclos-
ing that the District and its sub
urbs will receive no part of the
S4O0000,000 requested yesterday,
pointed out that many war housing
units are now under construction
here by Government agencies and
private builders. A large number
of these new dwellings will be ready
Tor occupancy within the next two
months, he said, and their compile
ton is expected to greatly ease the
present housing shortage.
When projects already planned
or under construction have been
completed. accommodations will have
been provided here, since the be-
ginning Of the war housing program
for a total of about 175,OOO persons,
the spokesman said.
The coming survey, through which
MIA Will attempt to learn how
nearly this housing will meet the
needs of local war workers, is to be
completed by June Is. 1t will be
conducted by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics.
Will Distribute Questionnaires.
Questionnaires will be distributed
10 Government agencies and war
plants, to be filled out by repre-
sentative number of their employees.
Final form OF the QUESTIONABLE was
worked out Wednesday at a meeting
between BIS representatives and
members of the Research and Sta
uStlcS Division of MIA.
Questions will be directed toward
finding out in what percentage of
cases war workers are living in
trallers. nave inadequate toilet facil-
ltles, are sharing kitchen facilities
With another family, or otherwise
are living in accommodations so in
tolerable as to impair their efficiency.
The MIA also will attempt to
estimate the number of war workers
VINO VIII move into the local area
within the next year. From this
and from estimates of present needs
based on results of the survey. the
agency will decide what. if any,
requests are to be made for addi-
tonal funds for public housing here.
Hearing on Bill Set.
The spokesman pointed out that
additional public housing will be
asked only if private builders are
unable to supply the deficiency
under the Federal Housing Admin
iStration mortga e-insurance pro-
gram. Private builders will prob
ably do the job If the shortage is
shown to be in high-rent housing.
Meanwhile, the Public Buildings
and Grounds Committee of the
House will hold hearing next Tues
day on the requested increase of
S4OO 900, 900 in Lanham Act appro-
priations for public war housing.
President Roosevelt yesterday sent
letters to the Senate and House ask
Ing approval of the increase.
Legal barriers which now prevent
members of Congress from becoming
tenants of Government financed
housing projects in this area will be
removed If the appropriations in
crease bill is passed, another spokes-
man for MIA which drafted the
measure, pointed out.
Must Show Eligibility.
Senator's and Representative re-
plD
and, as such, become eligible for
residence in all private war housing
projects. They have been prevented
from becoming tenants in public
housing developments, however, by
an old law which provides that no
member of Congress shall hold or
enjoy, while in Office. any benefits
from contracts made with the
Federal Government.
A section of the new housing bill
provides that this existing law shall
not prevent any member of Congress
from renting or leasing Government
financed housing in the District or
nearby Maryland and Virginia.
The MIA spokesman pointed out
however, that passage of the new
legislation would not exempt men,
bers Of Congress from the same eligi-
bility requirements that apply to all
other war workers who seek resi-
dence in war housing projects. In
order to obtain the priority which
would permit him to become a ten
ant in either publicly or privately
financed war housing. member of
Congress will have to be an in
migrant who has moved into this
area since July l, 1941.
Aieenuri n;on N;.L L>I:.