A toolkit to help low-income Detroit homeowners apply for property tax assistance and prevent foreclosure.
Approach
While working with Detroit residents facing foreclosure, we found that many low-income and elderly homeowners were eligible for assistance but struggled with complicated application procedures and technological barriers. Our toolkit aimed to create a public resource for community outreach, and walk homeowners through the process step-by-step. We also hoped the toolkit could facilitate network-building and knowledge sharing across groups, while equipping community members with the skills they need to become agents for change in foreclosure prevention. Our toolkit was used by partners like United Community Housing Coalition, and was later adapted by larger corporate players in the foreclosure prevention space.
Role
As a volunteer member of the nonprofit Tricycle Collective, I helped to update versions of the toolkit with graphics and layout, edit for clarity and consistency, and run training workshops with residents and organizers.
Team
Tricycle Collective, with Alexa Eisenberg and Erika Linenfelser