Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-03-06
Gum SPRINGS Sums

A letter to The Star ques-
tons the value of temporary
repairs in Gum Springs slum
housing, as performed by a
group Of volunteers Il was
not among them on George
Washington's Birthday.
I concur with the state
ment that provision Of low
income housing requires
long hours or hard work to-
ward an overall plan to pro-
vide the housing in such a
way that there will be a de-
sire Of the people to help
themselves as much as pos
sible," and appreciate the
statement that the problem
was well-outlined in the re-
port Of our Housing Com
mittee, which can serve as
a starting point.
The starting point was
left when those volunteers
cared enough about the
problem to do something
about it. Basic to a perma-
nent solution is provision of
housing for persons dis
placed by county action.
Fairfax County presently has
no relocation program. It
must have before 1t can
qualify for grants to q local
housing authority, which
would be appointed by the
Board Of Supervisors. The To-
cal authority would buy
land. build and equip the
houses, using private con-
tractors and competitive
bids-and manage the pro-
ject, just as 80 housing pro-
jects are presently managed
by is local housing authori-
ties in other Virginia COM
munities.
Activation Of q local hous-
ing authority requires ap-
proval by a majority of the
county's voters.
The fact that q group Of
volunteers-including neigh
bors and other Northern
Northumberland enough to
help make the repairs. that
churches and businessmen
cared enough to donate ma
terials. had the effect which
the writer Of the February 2s
letter seeks. The residents
had, on their own, started
to clean UP and fix up be-
fore the volunteers arrived.
/ know Of no one involved
in the expanding efforts to
improve Fairfax County
housing for low income peo-
pie who regards temporary
repairs by volunteers-which
enabled these families to
stay on until April - as
q solution to the problem.
But the attitude indicated
by the volunteers Is signifi-
cant and heartening. So Is
the attitude Of the local
press-like The Star which
said editorially that the vol
unteers have done more
than give temporary relief to
the Gum Springs people.
They have again called at
tention TO the deplorable
conditions under which more
than 1000 persons are forced
to live" Vic Reinemer,
Chairman. Fairfax County
Housing Committee.
80
Two letters from your
readers seem TO be In doubt
Of the real purpose Of SEN
ator Williams good works in
Gum Springs. Virginia.
These letters themselves,
and the thousands OF minds
that have been stimulated
by the Senator's action. con-
stitute a fitting purpose.
II took this Northern lib
eral. who I am sure Mr..
Broyhill would classify as a
first rate carpetbagger, by
his one days effort in Gum
Springs TO again focus the
light OF national attention on
Virginia's shame. Perhaps
the conscience OF the COM
placent and comfortable
electorate OF Northern Viz
ginia may even be Jared TO
remember the plight Of the
Negro children of Prince
Edward County.
II Virginia is ever 10 re-
gain even a portion OF It's
once great tradition, Il win
need political leadership OF
the type OF Senator VIII
liams. that Is willing 10 run
the risk Of ridicule OF the
few 10 stir the minds and
hearts Of the many.
lanes r.. GiIgnn