(1930s)Hoovervilles

Hoovervilles were named after President Herbert Hoover, the 30th President of the United States.

The Great Depression occurred during Hoover’s Presidency and many American’s blamed him for the downfall of the country.

Hoovervilles

In October of 1929 the stock market crashed. Soon after the Great Depression began. With unemployment at about 25%, many people were left homeless or wandering the streets.

Between home foreclosures,unemployment, and peoplewandering from town to townlooking for a job; the numbers ofpeople living in Hoovervillesdramatically increased.

Hoovervilles

People who lost their house tried to live with

family, but ordinary, everyday people

sometimes ended up on the streets in

Hoovervilles.

Hoovervilles were usually shacks, tents or cardboard boxes that were found in cities all across the United States. They were also nicknamed “tent cities” or “shanty towns.”

Some lucky people managed to built semi-stable stone structures, while others just put cheap wood up or tents.

Hoovervilles

Most of the time they gathered on empty land that was close to soup kitchens, or places to get a free meal run by Churches.

Hoovervilles

Some big Hoovervilles were even organized settlements. They set up their own miniature-

governments, voted on mayors, set up duties and committees.

One of the largest settlements was in Central Park, New York City.

Hoovervilles were usually unsanitary and hazardous to health.

In 1941 a program to eliminate the Hoovervilles and shacks was put into action.

The area was usually set on fire or destroyed with bulldozers.

In America, it’s estimated about three and a half million people are homeless.

On any given night in America, anywhere from 700,000 to 2 million people are homeless, according to estimates of the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty.

44 percent of the homeless, single women 13 percent, families with children 36 percent, and unaccompanied minors seven percent.

Today in America

*Facts are excerpted from Almanac of Policy Issue “Homelessness”

Today in America

Today in America

Will the number of people without homes rise because of our recession?

Other terms like “Hoover Blanket” and “Hoover Flag”

were used.

A “Hoover Blanket” referred to

an old newspaper that one used

as a blanket .A “Hoover Flag”” referred to an empty pocket turned inside out.

The End