The Housing Act of 1949

After World War II returning veterans faced a shortage of affordable housing at home. The Housing Act of 1949 was passed in order to remedy the situation. Unfortunately, the act led to unforeseen complications that would exacerbate the urban crisis farther. Affordable high-rise housing built as a result of the act would force people who could afford it to move out into the growing suburbs and the poor devour the structures. As a result of displacement and previous Supreme Court decisions blockbusters would move African Americans into previous white neighborhoods which caused the movement of segregated districts within the cities to change.

Spirits in the United States were high after World War II. The triumph over Germany brought with it a sense of accomplishment which made the country feel as if it had the ability to achieve anything and could overcome all odds. Unfortunately for soldiers coming home high spirits did not guard them from the shortage of affordable housing. In 1946, the head of the Office of Price Administration estimated that over 1.4 million houses were needed to house returning veterans and home front workers. Even at the highest rate of construction it would take twelve years to house everyone properly and affordably. The Federal Government realized the problems the cities were facing and decided that it would be best for local governments to mandate the situation along with federal funding. In order for local government to accomplish this task the Housing Act of 1949 was passed.

The Housing Act of 1949 expanded the federal role in mortgage insurance and the construction of public housing. The act gave city officials the money to carry out their ambitions of reviving the American city. Title I, authorized on...

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... cheaply from uneasy white inhabitants and sold to African Americans for considerable profits.

Although the Housing Act of 1949 was passed with good intentions it can be seen that it lead to unforeseen complications that would exacerbate the urban crisis. Affordable high-rise housing, that was meant to bring more people into the city instead, forced the people who could afford it to move out into the growing suburbs and the poor to quickly demolish the poorly built maintained structures. As a result of displacement and previous Supreme Court decisions blockbusters would move African Americans into previous white neighborhoods which caused the movement of segregated districts within the cities to change. In the end the only thing that changed were the placement of black and white districts, the growth of suburbs, and empty lots where affordable housing once stood.