The film discusses how the U.S. population has shifted since 1700 when the population trebled in size. By 1970, 69 percent of the population lived in the cities, with low-income people situated in the inner cities and the middle class in the suburbs. Although the trend was to build high rise buildings in the high-density areas for low and moderate-income people, these buildings increased the anonymity of the residents and were vulnerable to crime. An examination of two housing projects in New York City illustrates those factors which work to destroy a housing project: high rise development which prevents parents from monitoring their children playing outside, stairwells hidden from view, and high density development which works against the family atmosphere apparent in a building constructed to house fewer families. The characteristics of single-family dwellings, walkups, and housing projects are detailed to illustrate those building characteristics which are best suited to particular groups. For instance, high rise buildings which lack yards and intimacy are suitable for high income groups but inadequate for families requiring play areas for children and a family atmosphere. However, high rise buildings with doormen are appropriate for the elderly who are concerned with security but present no crime problem. If grouped together in such buildings, the elderly can maintain communal meals and activities as well as nursing services. The final sequence of the film describes a housing project in Newark, N.J., which incorporates many of the film's ideas. Elderly residents of the project live in a single high rise building and are assigned a common ground unit; families with children reside in row houses or walkups and have individual ground units.