On the home front, America began to cast home-building and home ownership in a new patriotic light. Following the example of the Better Homes Campaign, private enterprise issued their own epaulets and put themselves to the task of galvanizing support for the home building. Among the repeated messages were directives to "modernize," promises that "Home ownership would maintain a stable society to confound the axis powers and help win the war" and always, "Your Government wants you to build."
There were several popular magazines and industry newsletters devoted to this effort. Tomorrow's Town, a newsletter published by the National Committee on the Housing Emergency, contained, among other things, political cartoons about the reconfiguration of urban politics around the home building efforts, patriotic commentary from elected officials including the President, and news about innovations in building technology. The Small Homes Guide, a journal aimed at disseminating information to the home buyer and conducting early marketing studies about the styles and accouterment which post war home owners would prefer.
"To America's Million Home-makers. A home of your own! - The dream of every True American! Your heritage from those hardy pioneers who wrought our nation out of the wilderness! Yours the goal they won! And Yours the obligation to protect that nation against alien dockers that lead to chaos. This is the challenge of our times--a challenge being met with the sound common sense of our forefathers and the determination that America shall grow by evolution not by revolution. In this struggle to preserve American institutions, now where do we find sturdier backing than in the stability and good citizenship of the Home Owner. For Home ownership means safety, security, peace, happiness. The greatest need in the country today is more good homes- better shelter-for our 30,000,000 families. To meet the this need all the influence of government, all the force of the building industry, and all the power of finance have united to make it possible for the average American family to build, and pay for, a Home as its contribution to this great task, National Small Homes Bureau dedicates to You Million Home-makers-SMALL HOMES BUILDER YEARBOOK 1938-1939. A cooperative effort by the building industry to tell You, in simple form and logical sequence, the full story of what it means to create a complete Home. It gives the latest developments in design and construction of houses costing up to $7500; explains the National Housing Act, tells how loan associations, architects, builders, material dealers and Realtors can help you. It answers such questions as: Can you Afford to Build? What kind of house? Where? What materials, Equipment, furnishings? What cost? There is so much scattered material on the complex subject of building that it is difficult indeed for the home-seeker to find out what to do and how to do it. So National Small Homes Bureau invites your questions about building, or buying a home and on every other phase of home-making." (from the Small Homes Guide 1938-39)