Repository: UIHistories Project: Book - Four-Year Report of UI President (1950) [PAGE 21]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

Great Hall of the Stadium, ai ! the Gymnasium Ann : wen converted temporarily into men's dormitories. Th oigh the tance of th Federal Housing Authority, temporary housing units were constructed during 1916-47 for 320 student famili 1.264 sir. men students, and 49 single women students. These b rrac ktype dwellings were not pretty, but they had roofs, they shelter 1 beds and study tables, and they eould be made to look attractive ii The Lincoln Avenue Residence Hall completed in 1949 added permanent housing for 548 women, and th first units of the StudentStaff Apartments furnished housing for 50 student families. All this took care of only a small percentage of the n( ut \ th help from fraternities, independent groups, private housing directors, and apartment owners, it meant the difference between keeping a promise to Illinois veterans and not keeping it. It was an excellent example of community-wide cooperation. Staff housing was quite as desperate as student housing. Ther< were few houses for rent in Urbana-Champaign in 1946 and the houses for sale were often poor bargains. This was the situation we faced in persuading faculty families to move out of good housing elsewhere and come to Urbana-Champaign. The University had to take emergency action or give up the attempt to secure an adequate faculty for the returning GI's. With the help of the Federal Housing Authority, 165 temporary barracks-type units were construe 'd for staff use. Seventy-seven prefabricated National Homes were installed and 22 houses were purchased for staff occupant . In \9\9 the University financed and completed 30 houses at R ce and Florida. Staff housing by the University is intended as a sti ). Th new faculty member is expected to occupy Univei rs : only a few years. The temporary units will I x>n I P' ible. The National Homes and I houses in the v > i a: b ing offered for sale to their occupants < I Oth< : < fh Stuc ot-Staff Apartmem will I I as soon to an I i m T) University polii is i t I ay t rental housing bush* i beyond the time of emergency, c in i wl il hou urcha I are ] ' in ai development 22