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Essay / The Housing Act from 1949 to 1574
After World War II, returning veterans faced a shortage of affordable housing at home. The Housing Act of 1949 was passed to remedy the situation. Unfortunately, this law led to unforeseen complications that made the urban crisis even worse. Affordable skyscrapers built as a result of this law would force people who can afford them to move into growing suburbs and the poor would eat up the structures. As a result of displacement and previous Supreme Court decisions, blockbusters displaced African Americans into formerly white neighborhoods, leading to a shift in the movement of segregated neighborhoods within cities. Morale in the United States was good after World War II. The triumph over Germany brought a sense of accomplishment that made the country feel like it had the ability to achieve anything and overcome any obstacles. Unfortunately, the good spirits of soldiers returning home did not protect them from the shortage of affordable housing. In 1946, the head of the Bureau of Price Administration estimated that more than 1.4 million homes were needed to house veterans and home front workers. Even at the highest rate of construction, it would take twelve years to house everyone adequately and affordably. The federal government became aware of the problems cities were facing and decided it would be better for local governments to enforce the situation 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 public housing construction. This law gave municipal authorities the money necessary to achieve their ambitions to revive the American city. Title I, authorized in... middle of paper... cheaply to worried white residents 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 would lead to unforeseen complications that could exacerbate the urban crisis. Affordable high-rise buildings, meant to attract more people to the city, forced those who could afford to move to growing suburbs and the poor to quickly demolish poorly maintained structures. As a result of displacement and previous Supreme Court decisions, blockbusters would displace African Americans into formerly white neighborhoods, resulting in a shift in the movement of segregated neighborhoods within cities. In the end, the only thing that changed was the distribution of black and white neighborhoods, the growth of suburbs, and the empty lots where affordable housing once stood..