Evening star., 1946-01-14
VeteransShow
Slight Interest in
Priority Housing
FHA Office Here
Reports Few CoIls
For information
BY ROBERT J. LEWIS.

Officials today were puzzled at
veterans apparent lack OF interest
In the Governments program to give
former servicemen preference on
new homes.
A check at the District Insurine
ONCE Of the Federal Housing Ad-
ministration, which will handle all
priority applications for the District
area under the program which opens
tomorrow, revealed that "only two
or three" veterans had called for
information.
A few banks, building and loan
associations and builders also in
quired about regulations and asked
when forms will be available, an
official said.
Prompt Action Assured.
The priority program is expected
to provide between 400,0 900 and 50O,-
900 new homes and apartments
throughout the, country. Sale prices
are limited to $4,000 and rentals to
$50 month. Only veterans will be
eligible to purchase or rent prop
critics during the construction period
and for 80 days afterward.
Priority application forms will be
distributed, starting tomorrow, at
the FILA District Insurance Once,
l041 Fourteenth street NV.
An official said speedy process
ing will permit issuance of prior
tiles "two or three days" after re-
|quired information is supplied.
Besides applications from the Dis
trict, the local Office will handle
those from Fairfax and Arlington
counties in Virginia and Prince
Georges and Montgomery counties
in Maryland.
Will Keep Eye on Prices.
Meanwhile, Raymond M. Foley,
FILA commissioner, said the FIRST
consideration" Of the agency will be
to expedite construction.
He pointed out forms will be
available to both individual veter-
ans and builders.
In letter today to State and
District FILA directors, Mr.. Foley
requested that they inform him If
applications tend to concentrate at
or Immediately below the $4,000
level without a fair distribution
among lower price brackets"
This was in line with his warn
ing last week before the Home
Builders Association of Metropolitan
Washington that the whole program
might be endangered" if a ma
jority of applications hovered around
the maximum price.
Requirements Listed.
Under Civilian Production Admin
listration regulations, he explained
lit is required that:
l. Applicants furnish description
of homes or apartments they plan
to build, and price or rental. (FHA
field Offices must be satisfied" Mr.
Foley said, that the proposed sale
price or rental is reasonably re-
lated to the proposed accommoda.
tom"
.. <APPAAIdlItS slLoW .tilCS WILL U6
ready to start construction within
90 days, that they have effective
control of the land, that financing
is assured and that arrangements
have been made for local building
permits. utility services and the like.
3. Applicants agree to make the
housing available only to veterans
during the period of construction
and for 80 days afterward, and that
purchasers pledge to abide by the
same waiting period and resell only
"at or below the original maximum
sale price.
Mr.. Foley explained that the reg
ulation also will aid those wishing
to convert existing buildings so as to
provide additional dwelling units
and also covers construction OF
group housing or dormitories for
colleges to help veterans.