Evening star., 1946-01-18
Housing Group Seeks
Homes for Veterans
Al Reuse Exhibit

A conference with the District
Commissioners will be sought shortly
by the District War Housing Com
mittee to discuss possible use of the
Washington War Housing Re-Use
Exposition as an emergency project
for distressed veterans families.
This was made known today by
John A. Reilly, committee chairman,
as reports indicated the scarcity of
dwellings in this area has become
more critical in the last few weeks.
Mrs. Ellen Harper, director of the
District War Housing Center, said
applications for referral to houses,
apartments and rooms are being re-
ceived at the rate of 430 day, with
two-thirds coming from veterans.
Veterans Have First Claim.
This is at least 100 a day more
than we had been receiving" Mrs.
Harper said.
Meanwhile, Wilson w. Wyatt,
Federal Housing expediter, declared
war veterans are mot only entitled
to first claim on the new houses
and apartments-they also are en-
titled to first claim on vacancies as
they occur"
Discussing the Nations housing
crisis, Mr.. Wyatt said In a broad
cast last night that while the situa-
tion is critical at present, the coun-
try is "on the verge of the greatest
building program it has ever seen"
Mr. Wyatt's statement came after
a delegation representing 80 national
organizations had called on Presi-
dent Truman and reported receiv-
ing encouragement in their support
Of a long-range housing program
proposed in the Wagner -Ellender-
Taft bill.
The Right Rev. Msgr. John
O'Grady, secretary of the National
Conference of Catholic Charities
and leader of the White House dele
cation, told reporters later that the
President "is very much interested"
in the program.
125,000 Goal Too Low.
Msgr. OGrady said that to his
suggestion that 125,000 units of low
cost housing be constructed, the
President replied that such goal
would be too low.
The 20-acre Refuse Exposition
site is miles beyond the District
line at New Hampshire avenue,
extended, and University lane. 1t
will remain open to the public
through February 9.
Rather than make a recon-
mendation now in connection with
use of the site, the committee de-
cided it should first discuss the
whole matter with the Commission
ers, who are now making a study of
the overall housing problem" Mr..
Reilly said.
Wants Sales Suspended.
Also on the housing front, Sem
ator Hill, Democrat, Of Alabama,
yesterday introduced resolution re-
questing that mo surplus housing
OF permanent character" be sold
to private interests pending consid-
Grafton by Congress of priorities for
veterans.
A companion resolution was intro
duced Monday by Representative
Manasco, Democrat, of Alabama
Both were said to be designed to
prevent immediate sale of six sur
plus war housing developments in
the District. On one of the projects,
Mclean Gardens, a bid has been
filed by a corporation formed by
District Post, American Veterans of
World War II.
A new airing of views as to what
further steps the Nation should take
to meet the housing shortage was
expected at a luncheon of the Ma
tional Conference on Jobs and Sc
curity at 1890 pm. tomorrow at the
Statler Hotel.
Speakers will be Mr.. Wyatt, Rep
resentative Patman, Democrat, of
Texas, and r. j. Thomas, chairman
of the CIO Committee on Housing
and Community Problems.