Sustainable Housing & Equitable Development
Building Stable Foundations for Accessible and Inclusive Communities
Thank You to Our 2025 Sponsors & Supporters
Our Mission
SHED (Sustainable Housing & Equitable Development) strengthens housing equity for low-to-moderate-income residents of University City by providing home maintenance and repairs, building quality affordable housing, and supporting home ownership.
Our Programs
Volunteer Home Maintenance Program
SHED acts as coordinator and leader of volunteer activities to assist residents with exterior home maintenance, including painting, yard work, and repairs.
Home Rehab Program
Volunteers perform more substantial exterior and interior rehab & maintenance, involving community youth for hands-on experience in construction and landscaping.
Housing Development
Our Home Building Program seeks to purchase vacant lots in the 3rd Ward and construct single-family homes that will be sold to first-time, low-to-moderate-income buyers. Its goal is to add value and stability to the neighborhood and the City.
Home Buyer Education Program
The Home Buyer Education Program seeks to educate those planning to purchase a home, providing essential information about the buying process and available assistance programs. It also covers topics for current homeowners, such as maintenance and estate planning.
Youth Career Development
The Youth Career Development Program seeks to develop career paths for University City High School students, offering tracks in the construction and landscaping trades through in-class, volunteer, and paid employment opportunities.
Delivering help and hope to University City
Who we are
SHED works to strengthen housing equity for low- to moderate-income residents of University City.
We partner with local nonprofits, faith-based organizations, academic institutions, city government, the school district, and other area service providers.
Our vision is to strengthen 3rd Ward neighborhoods through home ownership, access to affordable housing, and career pathways for local youth.
Recent Events & Programs
October 11-12th: Volunteers Wanted! SHED's Fall Work Days
News & Updates
SHED Holds 2025 Annual Community Meeting
SHED’s 2025 annual community meeting was held on Tuesday, November 18th, at the University City Public Library. Thank you to all who attended and contributed to the evening’s discussions! We’re grateful for the opportunity to connect, share updates, and gather valuable feedback from our community members. Your support and insights drive our work forward, and we’re excited to collaborate on our goals for 2026.
Click here to see pictures, watch the video, or view the PowerPoint presentation.
SHED Names Joel Pugh Executive Director
Exciting news: SHED has hired Joel Pugh as our first full-time Executive Director! It’s a major milestone for the organization—16 years in the works—and one that was made possible thanks to a generous capacity-building grant from InvestSTL. Joel brings a wealth of experience in city planning, community and economic development, and grant management to the role. Read More…
SHED Wraps Up Another Homeownership Series
SHED recently concluded its 2025 four-part online home-buying and homeownership series in October with a final session on “Appraisals and Inspections.” Now in its third year, the program also explored budgeting and credit, estate planning, and maximizing your home’s value. Readers can watch sessions and access detailed recaps from all three years on our Home Buyer Education Series page. Read More…
SHED Hosts Open House At
Crest Avenue
In August, SHED was proud to welcome the community to an open house on Crest Avenue, celebrating the completion and sale of our first home to a first-time buyer. The milestone marked an important step toward our mission of creating quality, affordable housing in University City’s 3rd Ward and was made possible through the incredible support of our partners and friends. Read More…