Evening star., 1945-11-08
Needed
For $50 County
Service Families
Aid Council Predicts
Demand Will Be
Tripled by Spring
By ROBERT j. LEWIS.

4 -
BY ROBERT j. LEWIS.
There Is immediate need for
homes for $50 service families In
the eastern suburban area OF Mont
gomery County and this need will
be tripled by next spring, thus cre-
ating a critical problem.
That statement was made at
meeting of Government ofiicials
and others called yesterday by the
Service Aid Council of Montgomery
Selective Service Board No. 2, to
consider means of relieving the
shortage.
In outlining the problem, William
F. Carlin, council president, said the
area affected covers principally Sill
yer Spring, Takoma Park and Ken
sington.
The meeting in the council build
ing in Jesup Blair Park, Silver
Spring. was attended by Represent
attves Sasscer, Democrat, and Beall,
Republican. Of Maryland; officials OF
the National Housing Agency, Of
flee OF Price Administration and Sc
lective Service; Representatives of
the American Legion and council
members.
Proposals Weighed.
Considered in a round-table dis
cussion were three council proposals
and several suggestions made by
those attending, including a recon-
mendation by the council that tenn
porary housing in Norfolk, Va, and
Indianhead, Nd, be reconstructed
on Government property at New
Hampshire avenue and University
drive for use of veterans.
Also up for discussion were pro-
posals that the Government spon-
sor privately constructed dwellings
for veterans and waive ceilings on
building materials for limited Pc
riod on veteran home construction.
Suggestions to ease the problem of
veterans now living doubled up or
those planning to be married also
included one for study Of the pos
sibility that WAVE barracks could
be turned over to veterans and an
other for q campaign by real estate
dealers to give veterans preference
In renting homes.
No Definite Action Taken.
While no definite action was taken
at the meeting, described as mainly
an effort to call attention to the
problem. the two members OF Con-
gress were requested by Mr.. Carlin
to become Lobbyists" for a vigorous
veterans housing program.
Mr.. Carlin also requested w. C.
Buell.. administrative officer of the
Veterans Administration; I. o
Kraabel, national rehabilitation Of
ficer OF the American Legion, and
M. o. Moore, American Legion field
secretary. to coordinate their ef-
forts" with the two members OF
Congress.
At the outset Of the meeting, Mr.
Carlin pointed out that / 200 of the
eastern suburban areas $500 serv-
icemen already had been discharged
Speaks for Builders.
Speaking for builders, I. Ingram
Medley, president Of the Montgom-
cry County Real Estate Board, said
they wanted to go ahead with a
construction program, but that labor
and materials shortages stood In
the way. He said a big construc-
ton program probably could not
get started before next summer
Appearing for the National Hous-
ing Agency. Charles S. Ascher said
he believed program could be
started by spring. and added:
"The shortages exist not only In
housing, but in many lines, because
the Nation has been using men to
turn out munitions, and you cant
switch around overnight"
The immediate problem, he point
ed out, was to make veterans un-
derstand the difficulties facing the
industry. and that "it is working u
hard as it can under the eircum-
stances to turn cut homes"
Earlier, Norton E. Long, assistant
to Price Administrator Chester
Bowles, said the veteran housing
situation will be boiling over" BY
next fall. and estimated that by thi.
time next year 2,000, 900 married vet.
Grams will need homes.
Sees Call for U. s. Aid.
Unless housing is speciflcall,
made available for veterans" h,
said. they won't be in an incom'
bracket to afford to rent homes
Uncle Sam will have to help then
out"
Mr.. Long, who said Washington
rents are ''notoriously high" addes
that here and elsewhere in the Ma
ton homes that had been held TO
rent are being thrown on the marke
for sale to take advantage Of wha
he called IAN uncontrolled market.
He suggested that property hold
ers undertake q campaign to Civ
preferential treatment to veteran
who are prospective tenants.
Members Of the council wer'
praised by the two members Of Con
gress for having called the problem
to the attention OF officials.
"This meeting will provide th'
focal mint for translation of sup.