South Govan Women's Housing Association facts for kids
South Govan Women's Housing Association was a group started in 1915 by strong women like Mary Barbour in Govan, a part of Glasgow, Scotland. This group helped families who were struggling to pay their rent.
The Glasgow Rent Strikes happened because landlords in Glasgow raised rents a lot during World War I. Many people felt this was unfair, especially since many men were away fighting in the war, leaving families with less money. Because of this, working-class women created groups like the South Govan Women's Housing Association.
Fighting for Fair Rent
This important group was led by Helen Crawfurd, Mary Barbour, Agnes Dollan, and Jessie Stephen. Their main goal was to stop families from being kicked out of their homes if they couldn't afford the new, higher rents. They also pushed for the government to help build affordable homes for everyone.
How They Made a Difference
The hard work of these women and their association led to big changes. Their efforts helped create two important laws:
- The "Rents and Mortgage Interest Restriction Bill": This law helped control how much landlords could raise rents, protecting families from unfair increases.
- The Housing, Town Planning, &c. Act: This law was a huge step forward. It led to the government helping to build 213,000 new homes soon after the war. These homes were often called "Homes Fit For Heroes" because they were meant for soldiers returning from the war and their families.
The South Govan Women's Housing Association showed how powerful people can be when they work together for a fair cause. They made sure that families had safe and affordable places to live.
