Evening star., 1946-04-05
Housing Committees
For Washington Area
Requested by Wyatt
By Robert J. Lewis

Housing Administrator Wilson W.
Wyatt today announced he had re-
quested the District, Alexandria and
four nearby Maryland and Virginia
county governments to set up Emer-
gency housing committees to spear
head" community housing programs.
In letters to the heads of county
and city governments, Mr. Wyatt
pointed out that where housing COM
mittees already are functioning, "se-
lection of a new one to meet pres
ent conditions would in noWise re-
fleet on them; in fact, you will prob
ably choose some members OF exist
! ing committees for your new COM
mittee.'
In the District a committee head
ed by A. Julian Brylawski has been
serving for about a month and now
has broad program under way.
Commissioners Meet Today.
The District Commissioners, meet
ing today, said they had the letter
from Mr.. Wyatt now under consid-
Grafton and indicated it would not
affect members of the present COM
mittee.
Meanwhile, the Commissioners
announced they had proclaimed
Veterans Housing week" April 20
to %, and urged housetolders during
that week to list with the District
Housing Center all available ac-
tcommodations for veterans.
Members OF the new COMMITTEES
would be appointed to serve for the
entire two-year duration of the Vet
Grams Emergency Housing program
/ which contemplates building of g.
t700, 900 homes and apartments
throughout the country. Estimates
have placed the Districts share al
about 10000. !.
| Mr.. Wyatt's request went in letters
to John Russell Young, president OF
the District Commissioners. William
A. Carson, chairman Board of Com
missioners of Prince Georges County
Md; Alfred D. Noyes, chairman of
the Board of Commissioners of
Montgomery County, Md: Edmund
Campbell, chairman of the Board of
Supervisors Of Arlington County
Va. Wallace G. Carper, chairman of
the Board Of Supervisors of Fairfax
County, Va, and Mayor William T.
Wilkins, Alexandria,
Goes to 400 Cities.
A National Housing Agency
spokesman said similar requests for
appointment of committees would
be sent to the mayors of 400 cities
throughout the Nation, but that
constitution Of county committees
such as proposed here would be
asked for in only few other areas.
The committees, Mr.. Wyatt said
would serve as ''the focal point of
all current community action on
housing.
"At best, the national Govern
ment can only provide for an ade-
quate flow of materials and man.
power, and render services to make
it possible for you to meet locally
this problem that you know SO
WELL" Mr.. Wyatt continued.
1T cannot possibly succeed with
out the same determination on the
part OF yourself and the people of
your community that was so eyi-
dent in meeting civic problems dur
ing the war;
Composition of Committees.
Mr.. Wyatt urged that the COM
mittees include representatives of
the local Government, including To-
cal housing authorities; the build
Ing industry. including representa-
tlves OF building materials manu-
LECTURERS and suppliers; home and
other builders. labor, veterans Or
carnations, civic groups, real estate
operators and other business and
public interest groups.
Mr.. Wyatt suggested the COM
mlttees could determine housing
goals on the basis of surveys, clear
away local obstacles which might
impede home building, including
modernHation of building codes and
zonlng restrictions; assure first
preference to veterans on existing
homes for sale or rent, develop
demonstrating programs for vet
erans and encouraging conversions.
Maurice Davis, Washington area
expediter, will work closely with the
committees in this area and supply
technical advise, information, and
other MIA facilities, Mr.. Wyatt
said.
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