During World War II, American families faced acute pressures in urban centers like New York City, where economic strain and societal shifts converged to significantly impact daily life. The play Lost in Yonkers explores The Effects of War in the context of Yonkers, New York, just outside of New York City. Economically, the war drastically altered the region’s economic and social landscape as New York, a bustling hub of industry and commerce, transformed to support the war effort. For some, like Eddie in Lost in Yonkers, this meant new job opportunities. However, the economic changes also brought challenges. Factories that once churned out consumer goods pivoted to manufacturing military supplies, leading to scarcities of everyday products and affecting families accustomed to convenience and abundance.

Rationing became a way of life. In New York and elsewhere, families received ration books dictating how much they could purchase of various commodities. Queues formed outside stores, and families had to plan their purchases carefully to make their rations last. This scarcity of goods coupled with soaring inflation placed a heavy burden on household budgets, challenging many families’ financial stability. In New York City, an influx of workers, attracted by job opportunities in wartime industries, exacerbated the pre-existing housing shortage.