Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-12-31
veteranH HOUSING
Tops Alexandria
Center S Tasks
Director Reports
Requests Average
80 or More q Doy
BY HELEN RAU.

Alexandria municipal service and
information center for veterans is
operating today at full speed and,
according to its director, Bernard
Gollinger, has justified its existence
since opening last fall in co-opera-
ton with the Citizens Postwar EN-.
ployment Committee.
In addition to providing informa-
ton and counselling, Mr.. Gollinger
says the center, despite efforts to
the contrary, is partly a housing
agency.
According to the director, an av-
erage of Al veterans visits the Office
daily, and of this number at least 80
seek housing. The fact that the
volunteer information service which
Is located in the same building-112
South Washington street-acts as a
clearing house for referrals to rooms
and apartments may have something
to do with the number of housing
hardship" cases Mr.. Gollinger is
called on to handle. Both Mr.. Col
linger and the Postwar Employment
Committee recognize the fact that
housing is the veterans chief prob
lem.
Mr.. Gollinger, recently dis
charged Army veteran, said it Is
obvious that many more men are
coming to Alexandria as veterans
than left the city to enter the service.
He explained that many discharges
are being urged at separation centers
to take advantage of their priority
for civil service jobs, and are there
fore seeking to locate in the Wash
ington area to take Government
jobs.
Housing Efforts Made.
A subcommittee of the employ
ment group, headed by Judge Will
liam P. Woolls of Corporation Court,
and Charles Henry Mason, is max
ing an effort to determine if priority
cannot be given veterans for hous-
ing in Chinquapin Village and Cam
eron Valley.
According to Mr. Mason, the re-
duction by so per cent of the per-
sonnet of the Naval Torpedo Sta
ton, for which Chinquapin Village
was built, should leave vacancies for
veterans. The National Housing
Agency, however. has not yet estab-
lished policy whereby families who
are no longer connected with the
station can be evicted, or whereby
preference can be given veterans.
Cameron Valley, constructed chief
ly for civilian and military personnel
from Fort Belvoir, could be made
available to veterans, according to
Mr.. Mason, if barracks at Fort Bel
voir no longer occupied by troops
could be converted into family hous-
ing.
At a meeting of the Postwar EN-
ployment Committee January 10,
reports will be given on progress
made to establish priorities for vet
Grams in the two war housing prof.
ects in the city.
Other than housing, the Alexan-
dria veterans problems are much
the same as those in any other To-
cality, and Mr.. Gollinger has put
into operation three plans to make
readJustment as quick and easy as
possible.
Piacards Guide Veterans.
The has had printed and distrib-
uted placards bearing the nfme and
address of the center. Included ara
the names of the seven organiza-
lions in the city which give aid to
veterans, but to avoid confusion. no
addresses are given with a view to
directing the veteran to Mr.. Coll
myers office, where it can be de.
termined which agency can solve
his problem. He is directed to that
agency after definite appointment
has been made.
Alexandria's businessmen have
been approached by the citizens
group to determine where employ
ment possibilities exist, but in or
der to put the veterans on a more
friendly footing with the local mer-
chants and businessmen before they
apply for work, they are usually
given a social introduction.
Alexandria's businessmen and
residents have co-operated splend-
idly in helping the veterans, Mr..
Gollinger said, and the co-ordina-
ton OF the various agencies
through his Office has eliminated
discouraging red tape. If the hous-
ing problem can be licked, Alexan-
drla can qualify as pretty good
place to come back to, Mr.. Gollinger
declared.
N>l llF