DescriptionExamination of Urban Homesteading as an urban renewal strategy for remediation for inner city housing abandonment. The previous research on causal factors of inner city residential abandonment are discussed. The two strategies of urban renewal are examined, rehabilitation of existing structures and redevelopment. The City of Philadelphia Urban Homesteading program is used as a data source for a regression analysis of demographic factors of abandonments and urban homesteading selection criteria. Conclusions of the research are the correlation between housing abandonment and urban homesteading selection criteria. Funding is the overshadowing factor in the success of urban homesteading and the driving force in residential abandonment.