Final answer:
Tenements are low-cost multi-family homes designed to fit as many families as possible into one building, typically found in urban settings and historically associated with poor living conditions. Unlike the single-family homes in suburbs that were created post-World War II, tenements were often overcrowded and unsanitary, contributing to the spread of disease and the emergence of slums.
Step-by-step explanation:
The low-cost multi-family homes made to fit as many families as possible into one home are known as tenements. These buildings were often rundown and were a response to the severe housing crises that occurred throughout history. For instance, during the rapid urbanization of the 19th and early 20th centuries, many workers in the cities found it difficult to obtain housing and would cram multiple families into one apartment to afford the rent. These apartments in tenements served the needs of the urban poor, including many immigrants who settled in various urban neighborhoods. The overcrowded and unsanitary conditions of tenements led to the rapid spread of diseases and contributed to the creation of slums, where housing was dirty and lacked basic amenities such as indoor plumbing. Despite the conditions, tenements provided a place to live that was within financial reach for many impoverished families and laborers in the city. In contrast, suburbs were typically areas of more affordable, mass-produced single-family homes that grew rapidly, particularly after World War II with assistance from the GI Bill. Suburbs, such as the iconic Levittown, offered veterans and others the chance to own homes and provided a different living environment compared to the crowded urban tenements. Recreational vehicles, or RVs, are not related to this context as they consist of motorized or towable accommodations and are used primarily for travel or temporary living quarters, not as a fixed low-cost housing solution.