The Housing Act of 1954 broadened federal urban policy from outright clearance toward 'urban renewal', encouraging rehabilitation and conservation alongside demolition. Its Section 701 created the Urban Planning Assistance Program, giving grants to states and localities to prepare comprehensive plans, and supported councils of governments and metropolitan planning bodies. The act required a 'workable program' for community improvement as a condition of federal aid. It significantly professionalised and federally subsidised local and regional planning capacity.
The act spread comprehensive planning across American local governments and seeded early federal support for metropolitan coordination.
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