Evening star., 1949-07-17
New Housing Program to Cover
Most Bio Cities, Survey Shows

lIltol l1ld WILL ASk&A S4AASApsAo
here on the new law.
IL Cities Expanded Plans.
The only official Government
survey of local housing plans was
begun in .1945 and finished in
1916. It covered the three-year
building plans OF the cities, in
anticipation of a heavy postwar
slump in unemployment which
didn't come.
Eleven cities now plan more
public housing than they did un-
der the three-year program pro-
jects in 1945.
The same number now plan
less. The rest have not revised
their plans. or expect to take
housing surveys to bring their
programs up to date.
| Except for Chicago, the largest
cities generally have boosted their
sights on public housing. These
also are the major housing short
age centers.
New York plans $4,000 units as
against $4,000 four years ago:
Philadelphia 10000 instead of
9,75O; Detroit 1920 instead of
5000; Los Angeles 10000 instead
of 5000.
On the other hand, several cities
in the next lower population
brackets have not pushed their
public housing plans upward. Some
have fewer units planned than
they forecast for the abandoned
three-year program OF 1945.
Richmond Has None Scheduled.
For instnace, St. Louis proposed
10000 units four years ago. now
has 1.248 definitely scheduled
Cincinnati has dropped from 1850
to 1000; Dallas from $500 to l.
200; Miami from $500 to 1000
Richmond has none now sched.
uled; it proposed 1900 in 1945.
On their face. the replies might
seem to indicate that the Govern.
ment has set up a more ambitious
public housing program than the
cities are ready to take on. Bul
housing and home finance agency
officials point out that few cities
now are familiar with the financ.
ing terms, and that these further
factors must be considered:
First-The new law has specia,
provision for rural non-farm'
projects; in other words, for small
towns and county areas not con-
sidered in the prewar program
Ten per cent Of the Federal funds
must be held at least three years
for these; 1t will take time to Or
ganize housing authorities in such
areas.
Second-There are 472 local au-
thorities which have had expert
ence in public housing or war
housing. Many did not exist in
1945; no one in Washington knows
their plans.
Third-200 additional local
housing authorities have been Or
ganized but have no experience.
This at least indicates awakening
interest in many smaller COM
munities.
On the other hand, private
realty and building interests
which bitterly opposed the public
housing law now are shifting their
campaign from Congress to the
city council. The outcome Of the
private-versus-public housing bat
tie cannot be foreseen.
Initial Outlays To Be Loans.
The Governments initial OUT
lays will be loans, not grants. The
United States Public Housing
Authority, under Housing and
Home Financing Agency SUPER
vision. will apportion the funds
among housing authorities that
apply for them. but the money
must be repaid with interest.
The direct Federal subsidy comes
later, when families move into the
finished project. The Govern
ment and the city each absorbs a
part of the rent-the part that the
tenant cannot afford to pay for
decent housing. The city's contri-
button in many cases will be in the
form of exemption from local
taxes on the property.
In other portions of the act, the
Housing and Home Finance
Agency is authorized to make loans
and grants assisting local bodies
to buy blighted areas. clear them,
and make them available for pub
lie or private redevelopment.
Also authorized are funds for re-
search to lower home building
costs, a housing census every 10