§ 12805. Sweat equity model program

• (a) The Secretary shall make available a model program to provide grants to public and private nonprofit organizations and community housing development organizations to provide technical and supervisory assistance to low-income and very low-income families, including the homeless, in acquiring, rehabilitating, and constructing housing by the self-help housing method.
• (b) The program shall target for rehabilitation properties which have been acquired by the Federal, State, or local governments.
• (c)
  • (1) The program shall utilize the skilled or unskilled labor of eligible families in exchange for acquisition of the property.
  • (2) Training shall be provided to eligible families in building and home maintenance skills.
• (d)
  • (1) The program shall include rental opportunities for eligible families which will help expand the stock of affordable housing which is most appropriate for the target group.
  • (2) The use of the tenant’s skilled or unskilled labor shall be encouraged in lieu of or as a supplement to rent payments by the tenant.
• (e) The term “self-help housing” means the same as in section 1490c of this title .
• (f) The guidelines for the model program shall generally comport with the additional protections and restrictions specified under section 1490c of this title .