HOUSING ACT OF 1937

U.S. Housing Act of 1937, sometimes called the Wagner-Steagall Act, calling for “decent, safe, and sanitary housing” for all Americans, provides for low-income housing subsidies and the creation of PHAs.

Under this Act, the Roosevelt Administration implemented the construction of new public housing units to be matched by the removal of an equal number of substandard dwellings known as ‘slums’ from the local housing supply.

The goal of the federal housing program was to increase the quality of housing without increasing the quantity. 

ESTABLISHMENT OF PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITIES

While housing projects were funded by the federal government, local entities known as a “public housing authorities” were made responsible for the ownership and operation of the housing properties.