Urban homesteading as described under the 1974 Housing and Community Development Act is still not within the reach of blacks and other minorities, because in order to qualify as a homesteader, "a person must be a good risk for financial institutions and/or have substantial craftsman ability." Urban blacks are not advantaged when these kinds of criteria are used. The mean income average in all cities participating in the Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) program is $12,309, while the national mean income of blacks is about $8,800. Early attempts at urban homesteading were almost totally middle class endeavors because of financing problems. It was hoped that HUD would make the program available to a more diverse economic group, but this has not taken place. One reason for this may be the vagueness of the program's goals: is it designed to renovate urban areas and restore the city's tax base, or to provide housing for poor people? As things now stand, homesteading has become a housing program for middle class people who do not wish to buy homes at inflated prices. (WI)