National+Housing+Act

National Housing Act 1934  “Hello my fellow Americans. As your President of these United States, I have noticed many problems with the recent housing and living conditions of citizens in this country that need to be corrected. Therefore, I have taken the initiative to pass the National Housing Act. This act will promote the general welfare of the Nation by utilizing funds to do each of the following things. First, it will help states in fixing unsafe housing conditions and increase the amount of secure housing for low-income families. Second, the government will give the proper funds to public housing agencies and grant them responsibility and flexibility as long as the appropriate accountability is present. The Federal Government alone can not provide housing for each and every citizen individually, but it will support and protect the actions of these citizens so that they can create new housing and neighborhoods. However, when intervention is needed the government will step in and make amends where ever they see fit. I have an enormous amount of faith in this project and feel that it will not only benefit individual citizens but also this great country as a whole. Thank you and good night.”  These historical posters are for the Federal Housing Administration which was established under the National Housing Act of 1934. This administration gave loans to Americans to purchase small homes and businesses. If someone was approved, they would be ensured a loan.

__**The Short and Long Term Impact**__ When FDR assigned houses to be built immediately, this required construction workers, architects, carpenters, and many other numerous jobs. By 1940, over 800,000 houses had been issued. And although, the economy seemed to be looking better, the FHA discriminated against the lowly suburban neighborhoods that didn't allow insurance for the neighborhoods that were lacking social and economic stability. Because houses were popping up each day, it drove the whites out and made life worse for the slums. The Federal Housing Act did little to improve inner city housing and only caused more racial segregation. Three years later in 1937, the legislation was improved upon and those were the the most recent improvements. Even though the FHA was seemingly unsuccessful during Roosevelt's presidency, the Federal Housing Administration is still around today providing mortgage insurance on loans for all Americans who qualify. It is the largest in the world of its kind and has insured over 34 million properties since 1934.

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA). (2006, September 6). //Homes &// //communities- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development//. Retrieved March 22, 2009, from http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/fhahistory.cfm

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