It was an old tradition: landlords barring children from their properties. In the competitive postwar housing market of the late 1940s, landlords regularly turned away families with children and evicted tenants who got pregnant. This was evident in letters mothers wrote when applying for public housing. At present, one wrote, I am living in an unheated attic room with a one-year-old baby Everywhere I go the landlords dont want children. I also have a ten-year-old boy I cant keep him with me because the landlady objects to children. Is there any way that you can help me to get an unfurnished room, apartment, or even an old barn? I cant go on living like this because I am on the verge of doing something desperate. Another mother wrote, My children are now sick and losing weight I have tried, begged, and pleaded for a place but [its] always too late or sorry, no children. Another wrote, The lady where I am rooming put two of my children out about three weeks ago and dont want me to let them come back If I could get a garage I would take it.When Congress passed the Fair Housing Act in 1968, it did not consider families with children a protected class, allowing landlords to continue openly turning them away or evicting them.
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About Matthew Desmond
Matthew Desmond was American sociologist. Matthew Desmond is an American sociologist. He is the Maurice P. Read more on Wikipedia →