Public Housing and the Poor: An Overview

Abstract

UBLIC HoUsING became a reality in the United States only in the days of the New Deal.There were some gingerly steps toward public housing during the First World War, and a few more in the states in the Twenties, but a serious, living program had to wait for the days of the great depression.'The major piece of federal legislation on housing was the Wagner-Steagall Act of 19372 which, despite a gloss of amendments, remains on the statute books today, hardly altered in its basic design.On September 1, 1937, President Roosevelt signed the bilP which was to begin a "cnew era in the economic and social life of America." 4 Hopes ran high in the early years of the program.The wall of resistance to federally supported housing had been breached.A "real start" would be made "at last" toward "wiping out.., city slums." 5 The states passed enabling legislation, local housing authorities were formed, and the flow of cash into public housing began in earnest."In city after city," wrote Nathan Straus in 1939, "the sound of the wrecker's hammer is heard, sites are being cleared, the excavators are at work, and the superstructures are going up ....[By] next summer . ..five thousand families will be moving from the slums into new and decent homes."' In the years since then, public housing has become a familiar aspect of the urban landscape.By the end of 1965 every state had some public housing units in planning or operation,7 and t Some of the material on which this paper is based was gathered in the course of inter- views.Some individuals who were interviewed would prefer not to be quoted directly.Some of the information supplied must be treated as confidential.Consequently, supporting authorities for some statements have been omitted.

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