United States Housing Act of 1937

The Housing Act of 1937 is responsible for the birth of federal housing program initiatives. This act was originally intended to provide financial assistance to states and cities for public works projects, slum clearing, and the development of affordable housing for low-income residents.

Housing Act of 1949

The Housing Act of 1949 established a national policy of a "decent home and suitable living environment for every American family."

Housing Act of 1965

The Housing Act of 1965 established federal assistance, administered through local public agencies, to provide grants for home repair and rehabilitation. This act also created the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Housing Act of 1969

The Housing Act of 1969 established an "operating subsidy" for the public housing program for the first time. Until then, public housing had been a self-sustaining program.

Housing and Community Development Act of 1974

The Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 established a formula for allocating funds to eligible communities and created a new federally assisted housing program, the Section 8 program, which enabled federal housing assistance payments to be made to owners renting housing to lower-income families.

Quality Housing and Work Responsibility Act of 1998

The Quality Housing and Work Responsibility Act commonly referred to as the Reform Act, brought wide-sweeping changes to the assisted housing industry in 1998. Amending the Housing Act of 1937, it provided new options for public housing programs, streamlined program requirements, and rewarded resident employment and high performing programs.