What did the idea of public work projects help during economic depression?

The idea of public work projects as a device to prevent or control depression was designed as a means of creating job opportunities for unemployed workers mad as an effective device to aid business to revive. It was conceived during the early years of the New Deal Era 1933～1937). By 1933 ,the number of unemployed workers had reached about 13 million. This meant that about 50 million people—about one-third of the nation—were without means of support. At first, direct relief in the form of cash or food was provided to these people. This made them receivers of government charity. In order to remove this stigma and restore to the unemployed some measure of respectability and human dignity, a plan was devised to create governmentally sponsored work projects that private industry would not or could not provide. This would also stimulate production and revive business activity.