Evening star., 1945-05-29
Letters to The Star
Mr.. Ihlder Replies to Editorial
on Evictin9 5000 Tenants

been to provide for those who are not
properly provided for by private hous-
ing and to graduate our tenants when
proper private housing is available.
From, the beginning of our work have
urged our local builders to provide
houses at lower rentals, especially for
Negroes, have talked to our bankers,
have tried to interest the Metropolitan
Life Insurance Co., 50 there might be
housing available for our graduates.
In 1943, NCFIA urged MIA to grant
5000 priorities for private low-rent
Negro housing. In the later months of
1943 and 1914 those were the only priori-
ties available to our local builders, so
they were used.
This month some OF the houses built
under these priorities are becoming
available. In preparation for that.
asked our highest income tenants to
register for them. II experience shows
that our 5000 tenants can get these
houses at rents within their means and
other houses become available, we shall
notify tenants with $2,7OO incomes to
register. This is definite attempt to
create vacancies in our properties for
lower-income families.
Changing Past to Present.
The key to your puzzling editorial
seems to be in the last sentence, "Ihe
friends Of public housing should be the
first to insist that low-cost dtalics mine)
housing meets the need solely Of those
for whom private enterprise has in the
past been unable to provide"
Even this key sentence. however, is
not quite clear, SO may paraphrase it
to read, "The friends Of public housing
should be the first to insist that public
housing meets the need solely of those
for whom private enterprise does not
adequately provide" AS so paraphrased
the friends of public housing would
heartily agree with it. The paraphrase
substitutes the present for the past-the
question is where low-income families
are to live no,u and what rents they are
to pay The interest of these low-income
families in the controverted subject of
costs was based upon a hope that If
private housing does cost less than
public its rents would come down.
With this paraphrasing the content
of the editorial would be changed.
Its second and constructive paragraph
would become the lead, with the addi-
ton of three words so 1t would read,
"It will be beneficial movement, in
sofar as both pripdte and public housing
are concerned II the National Capital
Housing Authority is able to eliminate
from its tenant rolls most OF the 679
families whose income is in excess Of
$1,000 a year."
AS the editorial says, to evict families
because of rising income when there
was a serious undersupply Of private
housing would have been illogical and
hardship. So, too, 1t would be hard
ship to evict the families for whom ex-
ceptions are made.
That brings 1t to the real point, the
cause OF the editorials condemnatory
tone. It says that exceptions to the
rule that 5000 families are to move to
private housing ARE rather broad" 1t
says If the public housing authorities
themselves do not initiate and con-
stantly press for the graduation from
public housing of those whose incomes
reach a reasonable level (what is 'rea-
sonable lever?), the public is simply
not going to support public housing"
Thinks Language Surprising.
This is surprising language in view
of the fact that NCHA not only did
initiate and is pressing for the gradua-
ton of its tenants whose incomes enable
them to pay the rent Of proper private
housing, but, from the beginning Of its
work, it has sought by every available
means to assure supply of moderate
rental dwellings into which its graduates
could move without going back to the
slums. Instead of commencing these
efforts, now resulting in success because
some private housing is now becoming
available, the editorial Is condemnatory
because certain exceptions are made.
But 1t does not specify the exceptions,
merely describing them vaguely as
rather broad"
In view of this vague condemnation
I respectfully ask The Star to express
its opinion on each of the exceptions.
These are: /. Families requiring four
bedrooms. None Of the private houses
have more than three bedrooms. At
present the small supply Of three-bed-
room dwellings has been exhausted. So
families requiring houses OF that size
are put on a waiting list and will be
notified when more three bedroom
houses are completed.
2. Servicemen's families. In addition
to the fact that congressional legislation
(Soldiers' and Sailors Civil Relief Act
Of 194O gives such families preference
status, the authority feels that they
should have special consideration be-
cause of the sacrifices required Of them.
Moreover. alotments may cease at any
time, the serviceman may be discharged
in the near future, and when he comes
home he may have difficulty in finding
a good job.
3. Mothers Of small children and ex-
pectant mothers who give up jobs to
take care Of their children, so reducing
the family income below $1,000. In this,
consideration is given to the possibility
Of cutbacks In employment, and to
beneficial effects in reducing juvenile
delinquency. From the tenants point
of view we have been told that when
the increased rent for private housing
Is added to the cost OF paying for the
care Of the children, for carfares,
lunches and other expenses necessary to
holdi,,O fho ioh tl,n ho loprn laFt Il. &1oa