In the 1800s, people who were below the poverty line couldn't earn enough money from their low income to live a decent life. Even though the government knew about it, they didn't take action until 1949 to give $2,000 per year for families that were in poverty.
The Housing Act of 1949 passed by
Congress was to provide decent homes for those in poverty. This act was later abandoned because it caused more people to lose their homes. The "projects" where they were building new homes became slums.The coal mining industry declined after World War II and the demand for coal dropped. many workers that worked in the industry lost their jobs as miners. This caused more than two million people left Appalachia.
