Tenement Housing in the Late 19th Century

During the later part of the 19th century, as the immigrant population swelled in New York, and other large cities, tenement housing became the only choice for poor families pouring into the city. Tenement housing arose as wealthier families moved out of the existing buildings and converted their former homes into housing for the poor. Soon, five families were being compacted in a room 12 x 12 in length with merely two beds, and a table or a chair. This inexpensive way to house the massive immigrant population in the last two decades of the 19th century resulted in lack of sanitation, disease-ridden dwellings, and unsafe living conditions.
Poor sanitation was ubiquitous in tenement housing during the late 19th century. The tenement buildings had poor ventilation, causing an unbearable stench for the tenants. Inhabitants were unable to bathe on a recurring basis, or wash clothes often, contributing to the horrible smells of the tenement building. Sanitation systems were abse...