Self-help homeownership is a process by which families earning low incomes can become homeowners by working with others to renovate houses.

Helping to renovate a vacant house adds value—called sweat equity—to the home. Because sweat equity reduces the overall construction cost, self-help homeownership is a great option for people who want to own a home but cannot do so through conventional means

People's Homesteading, however, no longer uses sweat equity in its revitalization strategy. As many of city's vacant housing stock became extremely deteriorated in the late 1990s, more skilled laborers became necessary in the the rehabilitation process.

Click here to see homes currently available for conventional ownership.

A group of homesteaders poses for a photo after completing a workshop.