Many people with different levels of experience were on hand to help. Many of the volunteers were from Bay Area companies participating in separate corporate programs.
The homes will cost around $180,000 to be paid over 30 years with no interest. New owners must complete the home ownership education class and will have to put in 500 hours of "sweat equity."
It's a distinction that has caught the eye of former President Jimmy Carter. He and his wife Rosalynn will travel to Oakland in October to lend a hand as part of the Carter Work Project.