Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-12-27
Displaced Families

We have been interested to
learn from The Star that ON
cial agencies. such as the Or
ban Renewal Operations Com
mittee, are developing a broader
concern for the problems OF
families being displaced by
urban renewal and housing
code enforcement. That COM
mittee is reported to be gather
ing information on what ON
cial agencies are doing to as
sist such families.
Too often families forced to
move become, in the public
mind. just another set Of sta
tistics, with little appreciation
Of the very real problems which
families face when forced to
pull up roots and settle in q
new neighborhood. In the past
they have been helped to find
places to live. but only lin
tied help has been available
for other problems.
People are bewildered and
panicky in areas marked for
Stun clearance. Families are
forced to make unwise moves
because there Is mo one to
turn to-" For example. families
may have to adjust to new pat
terms of expenditure through
shifting from a weekly budget
to monthly budget. Without
adequate guidance. they may
be unable to cope with the
extra one-third Of q week in
volved. They also have a prob
lem Of breaking through bar
riers of resentment raised
against so-called "slum area"
families. and children face
emotional problems when
taken from familiar surround
ings and thrust into new, un-
familiar environments.
For the past six months a
group of social work agencies
has been providing this kind
of help to residents Of the CT
area In Southwest which is
scheduled for early redevelop-
ment. Approximately ITO fam
lilies live in the area.
Five Community Chest agen-
cies are offering a three-fold
service:
/. The families are kept in
formed of the official develop
ments affecting their neigh
borhood to minimize the de-
moralizing and confusing In
fluence Of rampant rumors,
and to enable them to gear
their individual plans to the
situation.
2. The families are offered
q transition training" pro-
gram, covering the wise Sc
lection Of sales and rental
housing. the process of NOV
Ing. use and care of unfamiliar
household appliances. money
planning, food and clothing.
interior decoration. commu-
nifty contacts In a new neigh
borhood. and ways OF helping
children meet this dislocation.
3. The families will have an
opportunity to get guidance
with their individual problems
through a program Of service
and referral.
Initiated and co-ordinated
by the Washington Urban
League, this project is being
carried on by staff members of
the Barney Neighborhood
House, Southwest Community
Center, Family and Child
Services. and the Southwest
Neighborhood Project and the
league in cooperation with
the Redevelopment Lam
Agency, National Capital Hous-
ing Authority, Southwest
Health Center and the Adult
Education Division of the Pub
lie Schools which provided the
teacher for the course OF in
struction.
The agencies carrying on
this initial effort believe this
is a service which should be
available to all families forced
to move by governmental &C
ton. We nope that the expert
ence gained from our pilot
project will make this possible.
While urban renewal and re-
location works hardship on
many families. 1t offers at the
same time. a unique opportu-
nifty for them to transform
hardship into better way Of
living and for the community
to become better place to
live. BY providing displaced
families with help and oppor-
tunities which many have
never had before it is possible
for them to derive the great
est benefits from their new
living arrangements.
LisIe C. Carter, Jr.,
Executive Secretary. Wash.
ington Urban League. Inc.