N.R.L.D.A. Urges Extension of FHA Title I

Washington, D. C., January 2l-Pointing to the deplorable condition of 6O per cent of American homes, as revealed in a recent survey of 8,000,000 dwellings conducted by the Works Progress Administration, the National Retail Lumber Dealers Ass,ociation today urged the extension of Title I of the National Housing Act-the Property Improvement Credit Plan-after its expiration July 1.

The need for this legislation, which enables property owners to borrow up to $10,000 for the renovation and rnodernization of homes and business establishments, is forcibly dgmonstrated by the findings of the Government survey, Spencer D. Baldr,l'in, chairman of the association's Legislative Committee, declared.

"Only 4O per cent of the houses reported on, representing 203 srban communities, are listed by WPA as in 'good condition,"' Baldwin said. "Sixteen per cent were rated in the WPA report as 'unfit for use.'

"When Title I was in effect originallv-from the fall of 1934 through April l937-more than 56O million dollars worth of property improvements rvere financed under the plan. It lvas allowed to expire, however, and was not reinstated as an activity of the Federal Housing Administratioh until February of last year. Since then, approximately 200 million dollars in property improvement work