Evening star., 1944-06-06
Housing Center Sees
Crisis in New Influx
OF Federal Workers
Thousands Of Young Girl.
Promised Rooms With
Jobs in War Agencies +.

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 q
critical situation unless household
ers cooperate by listing all avail
able rooms.
Marvin Wire, director Of the War
Housing Center at l4oo Pennsylvania
avenue NV, reported more than
1000 persons would 60 to work for
the War Department and hundreds
more for such departments and
agencies as the Navy FB1 and Vst-
Grams Administration.
Most OF these newcomers, are
women IT, 10 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 then1--and the
War Housing Center is attempting
to fulfill that promise. rs
Branch Ohaces Set Up.
Branch oflices Of the CSC and War
Housing Center have been set up In
the huge PentaEon building, making
it possible to process and house
applicants within 4 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. u
wxs estimated that $50 rooms Nsslid
be needed within the next 20 days
Ia Arlington, 250# mi AloxandTtA,
1000 iii central Warrington, 500 III
the section north of Harvard street
near Rock Greek Park, and 500 more
In. the northeast. southeast and
southwest sections.
Rooms are needed especially for
Negroes, 1t was pointed out, since
approximately 10 pier cent OF all
people hired are colofed and few
residences for Negroes have been
listed. - .s. ..' "
Try to Solve Problems. +
The housing branch ONCE in the
Pentagon Building. directed 2 by
Charles Cunningham, attempts to
solve all housing problems con-
fronting new employees. It's STAN of
20 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.
Satisfactory arrangements gen.
orally can be made, Mr.. Cunning
ham reports, and conditions COM
parable to those found at home can
be offered most Of the applicants.
But sometimes complications arise
Mr.. Cunningham 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
lack of community facilities in some
areas create other difficulties. A
majority Of the employees earn only
sl,752 to $l,97l yearly. exclusive of
overtime, and cannot afford lavish
quarters.
It's possible to get single rooms
ranging In price from SIS to $50
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
tlng householders to list their rooms
with the War Housing Center, 140O
Pennsylvania avenue NV, and liz
South Washington street, Alex