Home Builders Foundation-HomeAid Portland Awarded Workforce Development Grant
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Portland is the second pilot project for the HomeAid America WORKS Program Giving Training and Job Opportunities for Homeless Individuals
May 21, 2019 (Portland, OR) – Home Builders Foundation-HomeAid Portland, a local nonprofit provider of housing and resources for the homeless, announces that they will receive a $25,000 grant each year for three years to provide technical construction training, education and job opportunities in the homebuilding industry for men, women, youth and veterans who are experiencing homelessness, at risk of homelessness or coming out of homelessness. The new program will be an extension of services provided through the organization’s housing development and community outreach programs and will work in alignment with the Home Builders Association of Metro Portland who is committed to fostering the growth and education of the next generation of builders and remodelers.
Last month, HomeAid America announced the launch of HomeAid WORKS, a workforce development program that will allow people experiencing homelessness the chance to pursue careers in the homebuilding industry. HomeAid WORKS is made possible by a $500,000 grant from the Lennar Foundation, the charitable arm of Lennar Corporation, provided as seed funding to create the new program. Home Builders Foundation-HomeAid Portland will be the the second pilot project for the national program following HomeAid Colorado in the Denver market.
“The answer to ending homelessness is to provide the necessary housing, but it must be in conjunction with opportunities for ongoing work at a livable wage to create self-sufficiency. We will be able to use this funding to help move people from homelessness to having well-paying careers in homebuilding. It’s a win-win-win for the homeless population we serve, the building industry that supports us, and the communities we operate in” said Peter Simons, CEO of HomeAid America.
With job vacancy at its highest in a decade and people in need of work opportunities to advance their careers and earning potential, Home Builders Foundation-HomeAid Portland will collaborate with nonprofit partners providing services to the homeless and connect them to a local training partner for opportunities to learn skills such as framing, drywall, concrete, plumbing, electrical and carpentry and assist them in placement in a construction career after successful completion of the program.
HomeAid’s program identifies nonprofits working to help the homeless and builds or renovates housing facilities on their behalf at a deep discount through the in-kind donations of builders, their trades and suppliers. These cost savings are reinvested into life-changing program such as job and life skills training, financial counseling and physical and emotional support. HomeAid WORKS will further expand the options available to residents as they work towards self-sufficiency. Job loss and the lack of affordable housing are two leading causes of homelessness, so giving those facing these challenges the chance to learn skills that can provide secure, well-paying jobs is critical to escaping the cycle of homelessness.
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About Home Builders Foundation-HomeAid Portland
Home Builders Foundation-HomeAid Portland, established in 1997, is the charity of choice for the Home Builders Association of Metropolitan Portland. Their mission is to build transitional shelter for families and individuals experiencing homelessness in our community and provide construction related educational opportunities for individuals interesting in pursuing a career in the home building industry. Visit BuildHopePDX.org for more info.
About HomeAid America
HomeAid, founded in Southern California in 1989, is a nonprofit provider of housing and resources for the homeless that operates through a network of 18 chapters in 12 states. Celebrating “30 Years of Building the Way Home,” HomeAid has completed over 560 housing projects with a value of more than $230 million, of which nearly 50 percent was donated by the building industry. HomeAid has added over 10,500 beds that have housed over 327,000 previously homeless individuals. For more information about HomeAid, call 1-888-3HOMEAID or visit www.homeaid.org.
About The Lennar Foundation
The Lennar Foundation was created in 1989 as the vehicle for Lennar to give back to the communities in which Lennar does business. The Lennar Foundation supports underserved children, education, homeless rehabilitation, medical research, and the elderly.