Evening star., 1944-06-06
Housing Center
Foresees Crisis
In New Influx
Thousands of Girls
Promised Rooms
With War Jobs

With thousands of young typists,
clerks and stenographers hired by
the Civil Service Commission sched-
uled to come to Washington within
the next two months, the War
Housing Center today forecast a
critical situation unless household
ers cooperate by listing all avail
able rooms.
Marvin Wire, director of the War
Housing Center at 1400 Pennsylvania
avenue NV, reported more than
1000 persons would 90 to work for
the War Department and hundreds
more for such departments and
agencies as the Navy, FBI and Vet
erans Administration.
Most of these newcomers are
women II, Is and 10 years old, grad
uated from high school during the
past month. The Civil Service Com
mission promised to find rooms for
them when it hired them-and the
War Housing Center is attempting
to fulf1n that promise.
Branch Offices Set Up.
Branch Offices of the csc and War
Housing Center have been set up In
the huge Pentagon building, making
It possible to process and house
applicants within a single day. Liv-
ing facilities can be found for most
newcomers Immediately, but over
night facilities are provided when
other efforts fail.
Government dormitories have
been filled for some time, placing
the burden on private housing. 1t
was estimated that 750 rooms would
be needed within the next go days
in Arlington, $50 in Alexandra,
1000 IN central washington, 500 in
the section north of Harvard street
near Rock Creek Park, and 500 more
In the northeast, southeast and
southwest sections.
Rooms are needed especially for
Negroes, It was pointed out, since
approximately 10 pier cent OF all
people hired are coiored and few
residences for Negroes have been
listed.
Try TO Solve Problems.
The housing branch office in the
Pentagon Building, directed by
Charles Cunningham. attempts to
solve all housing problems con-
fronting new employees. It's staff of
40 collects housing history cards
from the applicants, matches them
against its list of rooms available, |
and sends them to inspect rooms
1t reserves in advance by phone. II
Satisfactory arrangements gem
orally can be made, Mr.. Cunning
lam reports, and conditions COM
parable to those found at home can
be offered most of the applicants.
But sometimes complications arise.
MIR. eGunningham says most of
the newcomers have no conception
Of the great distances in Washing
ton, and often expect to get within
walking distance Of the Pentagon
Building, where there simply aren't
any rooms.
Other Difficulties.
Transportation, budgeting and q
lack of community facilities In some
areas create other difficulties. AL
of the employees earn only
sl,752 to $1,971 yearly, exclusive of
overtime, and cannot afford lavish
quarters.
It's possible to get single rooms
ranging in price from SIS to $50 a
month, and double rooms ranging
from $25 to $40, in most instances.
Trouble arises, though, when a
group wants to live in the same
house, seeks room and board at the
same place, tries to get a room
with a piano, or facilities for
young child.
Despite such handicaps, the War
Housing Center branch manages to
find homes for more than 100 new
Government employees daily. And
quite apart from the problems men,
toned. Mr. Cunningham says, the
chief obstacle to placing more is get
ting householders to list their rooms
with the War Housing Center. 1400
Pennsylvania avenue NV. and liz
South Washington street, Alex
andria.