About YouthBuild

National Program

In the national YouthBuild program, low-income young people ages 16-24 work toward their GED or high school diploma while learning job skills by building affordable housing for homeless and low-income families. Today there are 226 YouthBuild programs in 42 states, Washington,D.C., Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, engaging approximately 8,000 young adults per year. Because a comprehensive approach is called for, the YouthBuild program has gradually and inevitably become a number of things at once...

An Alternative School

... in which young people attend a YouthBuild school full-time on alternate weeks, studying for their GEDs or high school diplomas. Classes are small, allowing one-on-one attention to students.

Job Training and Pre-Apprenticeship Program

... in which young people get close supervision and training in construction skills full-time on alternate weeks from qualified instructors.

Community Projects

... in which young people build housing for homes and other low-income families, providing a valuable and visible commodity for their hardpressed communities.

Leadership Development and Civic Engangement Program

... in which young people share in the governance of their own program through an elected policy committee and participate actively in community affairs, learning the values and the life-long commitment needed to be effective and ethical community leaders.

Youth Development Program

... in which young people participate in personal counseling, peer support groups,and life planning process that assist them in healing from past hurts, overcoming bad habits and negative attitudes, and achieving goals that will establish a productive life.

Long-Term Relationships

... in which young people make new friends committed to a positive lifestyle, pursue cultural and recreational activities together, and can continue to participate for years through the YouthBuild alumni association.

Community Development Program

... in which community-based organizations obtain the resources to tackle several key community issues at once, strengthening their capacity to build and manage housing for their residents, educate and inspire their youth, create leadership for the future, and generally take responsibility for their neighborhoods.