The Sanitary Engineer in Public Housing *

Sanitary engineers do not yet realize the important part they are destined to play in the development and management of low-rent housing. Less than a score of American engineers in public health have had day-to-day work in the public housing program, and not all of these have been privileged to participate directly in the business of planning, building, and operating low-rent dwellings. Public housing is new in the United States. The first large-scale use of tax funds for the development of housing began during the depression of the 1930's. The federal public housing program was initiated by the Housing Division of the Public Works Administration in 1933. This division was absorbed in 1937 by the United States Housing Authority (USHA), a newly created independent agency. By February 24, 1942, when the National Housing Agency (NHA) was established by Executive Order to conduct the housing business of the Federal Government, sixteen agencies, divisions, and independent offices were involved in housing activities. The U. S. Public Health Service began work on the sanitary engineering aspects of public housing during 1938 when an engineer officer was assigned on a part-time basis as an adviser to the USHA. To understand his functions, it is necessary to recognize the responsibilities and authority of the USHA. That agency was responsible for providing "technical assistance to local housing authorities in making surveys to determine housing needs, in selecting sites, in negotiating financial and legal matters, and in designing projects. However, except for a few basic standards, final decisions rested with the local housing authorities."4 In other words, the USHA was essentially a money-lending and advisory agency. A consultant to an organization of this type is limited to such specific activities as review of broad policies, study of design and construction standards, and stimulation of research. He cannot work on the