Published: July 24, 2019
Remarks by President Harry S. Truman on the Housing Act of 1949
On July 15, 1949, President Harry S. Truman signed into law the Housing Act of 1949, saying:
“This far-reaching measure is of great significance to the welfare of the American people. It opens up the prospect of decent homes in wholesome surroundings for low-income families now living in the squalor of the slums. It equips the Federal Government, for the first time, with effective means for aiding cities in the vital task of clearing slums and rebuilding blighted areas. It authorizes a comprehensive program of housing research aimed at reducing housing costs and raising housing standards. It initiates a program to help farmers obtain better homes.”
As part of the Fair Deal, the act created the Urban Redevelopment program and established the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), currently the largest insurer of mortgages in the world.
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