Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-04-13
Counse|ing Plan
For Relocation
Being Drawn
Would Offer Advice
To Families Displaced
By Federal Projects
A-24 THE EVENING STAR
s** Washington. D C.
SATURDAY, APRIL IS, 1887

District officials are drawing
up a new proposal for central
relocation services to families
displaced by Government prof.
ects in the District. it was
learned today.
The plan. under which the Re-
development Land Agency would
offer counseling and information
to families displaced by Gov
eminent activities other than
urban renewal may go to the
Commissioners next week.
It would represent a compro-
mise with a previous proposal for
q full-scale central relocation
service including financial pay
ments such as those required by
law in the case of urban re-
newal displacements.
Engineer Com missione
Thomas A. Lane had questioned
before the Districts Urban Re-
newal Council whether the Dis
trict should establish for itself
a responsibility to pay relocation
expenses for families uprooted by
all types of Government projects.
Income Not a Consideration
While he did not question as
sistance to needy families, it was
pointed out that under the RIA
program, a family's income is
not a consideration in the obli-
cation for relocation payments.
When a family is displaced by
the Southwest redevelopment
program, for instance. it can
claim up to S100 moving costs.
The land agency is obligated by
Federal statute to pay it after a
substantiating investigation.
Gen. Lane was concerned as to
whether the District should get
itself in the position of having
to make such payments to all
corners.
The new proposal being worked
out by various District officials
concerned with activities involv-
ing displacement of families by
Government action such as con-
domination. housing code enforce
ment and highway projects con-
templates that the District. or
even a private agency, would
contribute staff member to the
RIA relocation service.
The RIA service then would
take on the job of helping fami-
lies evicted by other than urban
renewal activities 10 find either
public or suitable private housing
If they need such assistance.
There would be no relocation
payments in these cases.
Case Load Estimated
Assistant Engineer Commits
sioner Robert E. Mathe said he
doubted whether the case load
would run more than 500 or
600 a year as a result of con-
formations, housing code en-
forcement, acquisition of school
and street sites and the like.
An even more limited proposal,
If necessary, would suggest that
RIA take on additional reloca-
ton service on a voluntary basis
without any more staff by max
ing available information and
public and private housing list
ings to displaced families.
Letter Released
Meanwhile, a letter was re-
leased by the Washington Hous-
ing Association to Gen. Lane
backing the establishment of a
central relOcatlOn service.
While it appears to be true
the District is not now legally
responsible for relocation other
than in urban renewal. the ques-
ton is whether or not it should
assume the obligation, wrote
Charles A. Horsky, association
president.
1--WE think it should. morally,
because it has caused the hard
ship which central relocation
authority will help to alleviate,
and practically. because it will
thus help insure that it does not
merely move blight from one
spot to another" he said.