Concept: Give abandoned homes to city workers?

[Crumbled_pavement]

I was on the Freep.com [[Mayoral Candidate Interviews) looking at the interviews given to both Ken Cockrel, Jr. and Dave Bing and one of the posters asked an interesting question. He suggested instead of the city tearing down abandoned homes that the city instead give those homes to police officers and fire fighters who currently live outside the city. I think this is an interesting idea. In my opinion it would take homes that are a detration to the city and make them an asset to the city [[productive neighbors, taxpayers, etc). I would go a bit further and give the homes away to any city workers [[obviously some criteria would have to be determined but current residency would not be one). I think this could also help the mayor's negotiation of reducing salaries for workers [[10% pay cut). The biggest expense most people incur is a place to live. If that was free, or near free, it would be like a pay raise even if the worker took a 20% pay cut. It is one creative way to deal with the glut of abandoned homes.

What are some other creative uses for abandoned homes that could benefit the city beyond just tearing them down? Granted, I am only referring to homes that can be renovated, not structures that are so derelict that they cannot be repaired.