The Housing Act of 1937: legal origins

Article Abstract:

The passage of the Housing Act of 1937 was the culmination of social and political events which can be traced to rapid US urbanization during the late 19th century, which had led to crowded and substandard housing conditions. Early federal efforts to provide more housing by condemning property and claiming eminent domain were thwarted in the Louisville Case, in which a court ruled that eminent domain could not be invoked to build public housing. Other short-term government projects to provide housing during the Depression also failed. Recognizing that a long-term government program was needed, a public housing act was first proposed by Senator Robert Wagner in 1935. Passed in 1937 after failing twice, the law created the United States Housing Authority and gave the agency the power to acquire and develop housing for low income people.

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Housing by the states

Article Abstract:

Areduced federal role in the housing field has contributed to an affordability crisis. Federally-assisted, low-to-moderate income housing construction and rehabilitation production has fallen from about 200,000 units annually under Presidents Ford and Carter to about 27,000 units today. State and local governments are joining nonprofit organizations and businesses to meet the need for affordable housing, but active federal support is still needed. It is suggested that a new housing production block grant be created to give state-level housing partnerships the resources needed to build or reconstruct housing at an affordable cost. Public housing policies in Massachusetts are discussed.

Massachusetts

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Two candidates speak: Governor Michael Dukakis

Article Abstract:

Massachusetts Governor Michael S. Dukakis expresses his views on the establishment of a National Partnership for Affordable Housing. The partnership would involve both the private and public sectors to achieve these goals: local involvement in constructing low-to-moderate income rental housing while maintaining existing housing stock; expanding home ownership opportunities; and providing flexibility between state and local housing markets.

Finance, Social policy, Dukakis, Michael S.

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