User:Pjasper7/Housing Act of 1937

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The housing act of 1937 wished to end what President Franklin Delano Roosevelt described as "habitations which not only fail to provide the physical benefits of modern civilization but breed disease and impair the health of future generations." . To solve these inadequacies the legislation outlined four key tenants: providing housing, renewing existing living areas, decrees density and the construction of sustainable communities. In order to do so the policy of a one to one replacement of existing housing was started. This would replace an existing housing location with new revitalized public housing. However, these construction projects were carried out by the state and local governments with the federal government providing the funding. Ultimately, the legislation created 1.4 million public housing units in the United States.

Outcomes
While the Housing Act of 1937 looked to solve American housing issues, it became marred by inequalities and problems. The main problem that rose from the legislation was the power given to the local governments. The Federal government let the local governments and voters decided on where and how to use the federal funding. This lead to local governments maintaining segregationist housing policies as well as failing to construct well thought-out housing and neglecting to maintain said housing. The inefficiencies inherent to the legislation cost citizens and held back public housing in the United States.