Legacy of the Housing Act of 1949: The Past, Present, and Future of Federal Housing and Urban Policy

Abstract

This article summarizes a special issue of Housing Policy Debate, which commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Housing Act of 1949. The act is best remembered for its declaration that every American deserves a decent home and a suitable living environment. The articles in this collection offer varying perspectives on how this act helped shape the postwar metropolis. The authorsurban planners, historians, and public officialseach consider a different part of the legacy. The first three articles deal primarily with the acts creation and social and political ramifications, while the next three look at how Titles I, II, and III have influenced the past 50 years of housing and urban policy. The record of the Housing Act of 1949 is mixed, and so are its lessons. There remains an ongoing struggle to find the right mix of housing support to reach the goals first expressed in this landmark legislation.