Life in the Progressive Era

The Progressive Era, 1890 to 1920, is known to be one of the worst times when it comes to poverty in America due to massive amounts of immigration, the urbanization, and industrialization of New York City.  In the time between 1880 and 1919, 17 million people from all around the world migrated to NYC in hopes of new jobs and overall a better life.
The majority of these working class immigrants were forced to live in tenements, a standard, multi-family apartment. Life in tenements was far from perfect. These houses were crowded, unsanitary, and often unsuitable for living. The room in tenements was far too small for families and most of the time a large family would share one bedroom and even one bed. To pay their rent, poor families would take in "boarders", single men or women that needed a home. On top of the crowding, the majority of tenements lacked toilets or bathing facilities so the surrounding tenements would share an outhouse: in extreme cases up to 40 families shared one single outhouse. Also lacking light and fresh air, people would get many illnesses living in tenements such as small pox and tuberculosis.
Poverty in America, especially NYC, was at an all time high during the Progressive Era and although it is not as extreme today, poverty is still affecting millions.
http://povertyhistory.org/era/progressive#tenement-houses