This social study of the Mulberry Street district of New York City was undertaken to determine the extent of unemployment and its effect on the health of families, as compared with the health of families still having at least enough employment to maintain a standard of living above the subsistence level. This report offers definite information with regard to what actually happens to families in which unemployment is a serious factor. It is based chiefly on surveys made in November, 1930, and April, 1932, with some references to a survey of April, 1922.
The Mulberry Street district is composed almost exclusively of Italians living in tenements. The results of these observations substantiate the hypothesis that when people have no work their health suffers, as compared with families who continue to have work. In November, 1930, two out of five families reported all workers employed as usual, while in April, 1932,