Federal Emergency Relief Administration

The Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA) was established in 1933 during the Great Depression to provide direct relief and support to those in financial distress. It aimed to alleviate unemployment and poverty by distributing federal funds to state and local agencies, which then provided assistance such as food, shelter, and job programs. FERA marked a shift towards federal involvement in social welfare, helping millions of Americans in need and laying the groundwork for later programs to support economic recovery and social security. It was part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal initiatives to combat the economic crisis.