History of Self-Help Housing
The mutual self-help housing "sweat equity" concept is not new. Organized mutual self-help housing with a permanent source of financing for participants started with the Quakers. In the early 1960s, people were determined to find ways to bring lasting improvements to the lives of rural Americans. They saw the opportunity to capture the energy and dreams of the rural poor and bring them better housing and better lives. From their vision grew the mutual self-help housing program.
