Hoovervilles: Great Depression Homeless Camps — Reading Comprehension

The economic crisis known as the Great Depression began in 1929 and resulted in massive unemployment and homelessness. As banks failed and businesses closed, millions of Americans lost their jobs, homes, and savings. With no place to live, many families built makeshift shelters out of cardboard, wood scraps, and metal. These improvised communities, found in cities and towns across the United States, became known as Hoovervilles.

The name "Hooverville" was a form of protest. It referred to President Herbert Hoover, who was widely blamed for not doing enough to end the economic disaster. People believed that his policies were insufficient and that the government had failed to provide relief. One resident of a Seattle Hooverville wrote, "We are here because we have no other place to go." This statement shows how desperate people felt and why they created their own communities.

The causes of Hoovervilles were complex. The stock market crash of 1929 triggered a chain reaction. Businesses cut jobs, leading to high unemployment. Without income, many could not pay rent or mortgages. Banks, unable to collect loan payments, collapsed. The government, at first, offered very little help. The consequences of inaction were visible in the growing number of families living in shantytowns.

Life in a Hooverville was extremely difficult. Residents built their shelters from whatever materials they could find. There were no basic services like running water, electricity, or garbage collection. Disease spread easily, and food was scarce. Despite these hardships, many residents formed a sense of solidarity. They created their own rules, organized soup kitchens, and looked out for one another. However, local governments often viewed Hoovervilles as a threat to public health and order. Some officials tried to shut them down or move the residents elsewhere, which sometimes led to conflict.

Multiple perspectives existed about Hoovervilles. Residents saw them as a last resort and a way to survive together. Social workers and reformers argued that these camps were a result of failed policies, urging the government to provide more assistance. City officials, on the other hand, worried about their image and the spread of disease. President Hoover insisted that private charity, not government aid, should help the poor. This difference in opinion led to public debates about the government's role in welfare.

Eventually, after Franklin D. Roosevelt became president in 1933, the federal government introduced the New Deal. Programs like the Works Progress Administration created jobs and built housing. Over time, the number of Hoovervilles declined as the government took a more active role in helping citizens recover from the Depression. Still, the existence of Hoovervilles revealed important tensions in American society—between self-reliance and government responsibility, and between different groups affected by crisis.

As a primary source, the words of a Hooverville resident—"We are here because we have no other place to go"—highlight the sense of hopelessness and urgency that shaped these communities. Their voices remind us to consider the human impact of economic and political decisions.

Interesting Fact: The largest Hooverville, located in St. Louis, Missouri, had its own mayor, churches, and even a newspaper.

When did the Great Depression start?

Who were Hoovervilles named after?

What was the largest Hooverville's location?

Why did people create Hoovervilles?

What did residents of Hoovervilles often do?

How did city officials view Hoovervilles?

The New Deal reduced the number of Hoovervilles. True or False?

What does 'solidarity' mean?