Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-06-29
Anocostio Problems

Eleven new social problems
were thrust onto the District
of Columbia. All IL are chill
dren under is years Of age;
their father was unable to
provide for them and so,
after months Of futile eff
forts by social agencies and
the National Capital Hous-
ing Authority, the children
and their parents were
evicted.
They have no funds; no
place to go. Their furniture
is being picked at by former
neighbors turned pirate. If
Junior Village had room, the
children would be separated,
by age, and could at least be
fed and housed there. God
only knows what would hap
pen to the mother. But Jun
ior Village, built for 800, now
houses 800, and cannot take
them. Two of these children
are crippled, one with cere-
bral palsy. What will become
of this family? How long
will it be before the children
are found, starved or in such
want as will lead them to
delinquency? How deeply
must this family suffer for
the sins Of the father? How
much will this cost District
citizens in the next so years:
court and police, institutions
perhaps prisons, damage to
persons and to property; how
much will 1t cost in human
terms?
Multiply the damage by IL,
and then realize that this Is
Just one family in one corner
of AnacoStia on one morning.
When he finished with this
group, the marshal had six
more to put out; and this
happens often in AnacoStia.
The fact that this can hap
pen at all in a community
where there is plenty, within
a short walk of middle class
homes and churches suggests
a gap which is deeper than
that which separates us from
the other underdeveloped
areas Of the world which we
are now helping with foreign
assistance, surplus food, and
peace corpsmen. Nothin g
and nobody helps these fam
lilies Of Anacosita, and ! sus-
pect that few in the middle
class sectors Of our area even
know of their existence.
Southeast Neig hborhood
House welcomes your interest
in trying to help overcome
that gap; but we must first
recognize its existence. Then
let us work for our COM
munity together.
Southeast Neig hborhood
House is grateful for your
help through your June 10
story, bringing some recogni-
ton Of this great area Of
human need. Ralph Fertig,
Executive Director. Southeast
Neighborhood House.
- y .
It was with great diSmay
that / read the plan of Ralph
d. Fertig. Executive Director,
Southeast Neighborhood
House, to experiment with a
new toy - the Domestic
Peace Corps - on residents
of the Anacostia- Southeast
area. The article in your
paper advising Anacostia
residents that they may be
made into a political test
tube stated we are stepped In
Southern traditions. This Is
actually amusing for It has
only been recently that being
q Southerner tainted one as
immoral. unpatriotic or nom
law-abiding. Are the majority
OF Southeast people to be
mace INTO guinea pigs Ior the
sake Of the administrators
policy Of appeasing the
demonstrating. groups Of
Negroes being led by vote
seeking white leaders,
In the Anacostia- Southeast
area we have many respon-
sible. well-adjusted and ra-
tional people to speak out
for whatever our residents
need. II there be a need for
volunteers" to the tune of
100000 Of our tax money,
TO enlighten us on Jobs, fam
ily-life. education, health,
delinquency and crime, safety.
recreation or even credit
buying, we are fully capable
of seeking such aid.