Evaluation of the Urban Homesteading Demonstration Program. Volume II: Local Administration of Urban Homesteading Programs

摘要

This report is the second volume of the final report of a comprehensive evaluation of the Urban Homesteading Demonstration Program undertaken in 1976 in the original 23 demonstration cities. The volume focuses on the administration of urban homesteading programs at the local level. The findings are primarily based on annual onsite interviews conducted with local officials and other actors charged with administering the program in the 23 cities. The report discusses the history and objectives of the program; local administration, property selection, and homesteader selection; and financing and managing the rehabilitation of urban homesteads. The report recommends that the process for selecting homesteaders be more closely tied to the process for selecting urban homestead properties. In addition, each homesteading program must establish appropriate property selection and homesteader financial criteria and apply these consistently throughout its program. Greater attention must be given to developing clear, comprehensive homesteading legal documents and property tax policies at the outset of a homesteading program. To ensure management control, homesteading programs should be required to maintain adequate documentation for each homestead property for which it is responsible. Finally, more encouragement should be given to cities to implement self - help homesteading programs. Tables, figures, and footnotes are provided.