disadvantages of Americans (before the housing act)
The American housing industry was ravaged, leaving banks, saving, and loan organizations that had capitalized home ownership crumpled or foreclosed on many residences. President Hoover convoked a “Conference on Home Building” and “Home Ownership” to discuss and analyze the housing catastrophe. The meeting later revealed that millions of Americans were disadvantaged by the lifestyle in overpopulated, sickly urban slums or in dilapidated rural homes. These findings were presented by one of the individuals in the meeting, who displayed papers on the situation.
According to “The New Deal and Housing,” Helen Alfred described the state of housing in New York City as gloomy, unsanitary, and congested. These slums were located in different areas of New York City. In the article, a British housing expert named Barry Parker compared the slums of Berlin and how the conditions were way better than in the hovels of New York. (13) In New York Times article, “Government Competition,” Jacob Mark noted that the chief of the housing division declared that there was a plan under the Public Works Administration (PWA) to construct “low-rent and slum-clearance projects in large cities at Federal expense.” (14) The plan seemed to follow through when Roosevelt mentioned the “social importance of housing to all people” and took action by presenting an opportunity to resolve the housing issue. With the release of the new policy regarding housing, the Federal government constructed many units of housing that were affordable to rent by many families.
According to “The New Deal and Housing,” Helen Alfred described the state of housing in New York City as gloomy, unsanitary, and congested. These slums were located in different areas of New York City. In the article, a British housing expert named Barry Parker compared the slums of Berlin and how the conditions were way better than in the hovels of New York. (13) In New York Times article, “Government Competition,” Jacob Mark noted that the chief of the housing division declared that there was a plan under the Public Works Administration (PWA) to construct “low-rent and slum-clearance projects in large cities at Federal expense.” (14) The plan seemed to follow through when Roosevelt mentioned the “social importance of housing to all people” and took action by presenting an opportunity to resolve the housing issue. With the release of the new policy regarding housing, the Federal government constructed many units of housing that were affordable to rent by many families.
Although the obstacles that many Americans faced were saved by Roosevelt’s actions, some see the act as “weak.” Isidor Berger criticized Roosevelt for failing to issue loans to “repair and modernize multiple dwellings,” according to a 1934 New York Times article, “Sees Weak Points in Housing Act.” He believed that remodeling apartment homes “would give immediate benefit” rather than offering low-cost housing. He defended his belief by stating that government loans would provide an opportunity for low-income families to construct their homes. $2000 would have been the maximum loan for renovations, but the realty owners who have deliberated the housing act disapproved of the amount as being too small to “make satisfactory repairs in large multi-family buildings.” Once again, Berger argued that the government’s failure to issue loans for the renovation of multiple homes, contradicted “its interest and concerns in low-cost housing.” (15) He stated the follow:
The administration’s failure to provide for the renovation and modernization of multiple dwellings belies its
interest and concern in low-cost housing. It is perfectly obvious that the construction of slum-clearance projects, to
which the government is committed, is an idle fantasy so far as producing such dwellings at rentals sufficiently low
for the low-income groups and at the same time be self-sustaining and self-liquidating.
The administration’s failure to provide for the renovation and modernization of multiple dwellings belies its
interest and concern in low-cost housing. It is perfectly obvious that the construction of slum-clearance projects, to
which the government is committed, is an idle fantasy so far as producing such dwellings at rentals sufficiently low
for the low-income groups and at the same time be self-sustaining and self-liquidating.
(13) Alfred, Helen. “The New Deal and Housing,” Opportunity: Journal of Negro Life. Accessed March 18, 2013.
http://newdeal.feri.org/opp/opp3423.htm.
(14) Mark, Jacob. “Government Competition: PWA Plans for Housing Construction Viewed as Opening Wedge,” New York
Times, November 14, 1933. Accessed March 19, 2013. http://search.proquest.com.mcc1.library.csulb.edu/hnpnewyork
timesindex/docview/100835120/13D5FEA960E3F135194/1?accountid=10351.
(15) “Sees Weak Points in Housing Act: Failure to Provide Loans for Repairs to Multiple Homes is Criticized,” New York
Times, July 8,1934. Accessed March 19, 2013. http://search.proquest.com.mcc1.library.csulb.edu/hnpnewyorktimesind
ex/docview/101113068/13D5BD9A3AEF3AF07F/1?accountid=10351.
