Painting Porches for a Purpose: Reclaiming Beauty, Restoring Community

From Homelessness to Homeownership: A Mission to Reclaim Our Neighborhoods

My name is Anthony Smith, and this campaign is rooted in lived experience.

There was a time when I didn’t have a place to call home. I know what it feels like to be overlooked, to walk past abandoned houses and wonder why no one’s doing anything about them. That question led me to research, and that research led me to Ohio Revised Code 3767—a law that empowers citizens to take action against nuisance properties.

I didn’t just read the law. I used it.

I went from being unhoused to becoming a homeowner. And I didn’t stop there. I founded The Select Community Property Leaders, a community trust dedicated to revitalizing neglected properties and restoring dignity to our neighborhoods.

Now, through Painting Porches for a Purpose, we’re raising funds to:

Beautify homes for residents who can’t afford it

Reclaim abandoned properties through legal abatement

Build a stronger, safer, and more vibrant community—block by block

This isn’t just about paint. It’s about power—community power. And your support helps us keep building.