National Grant for HBF Workforce Development
Home Builders Foundation Workforce Development efforts will be boosted by a national organization. The National Housing Endowment Career Connections program selected HBF this spring as well as 58 other National Association of Home Builders organizations for grants that will ultimately involve 30,000 students nationwide.
HBF is using the grant to start our “Picnic Table Project." We are piloting a program where we will donate materials to schools so students can build sturdy picnic tables. The students will use plans created by the NAHB for student building competitions. These student-built tables will then be gifted to HBF's local shelter partners including Clackamas County Veterans Village, and some of the new Portland “Safe Rest” transitional housing villages.
Do Good Multnomah, operator of the Clackamas Veteran’s Village and other shelter sites, praises HBF for adding amenities to the villages it manages, such as this covered picnic area. This beautiful structure was constructed with materials donated by Builders FirstSource, and built by TaylorSmith Sustainable Construction. Typically, shelter operators do not have money in their budgets for exterior spaces, leaving residents without comfortable places to gather outdoors.
Students at Leodis V. McDaniel and Sam Barlow High will be helping with the pilot, as well as trainees from Constructing Hope. Recent studies show the majority of young people want meaningful work. HBF believes by involving students in our shelter projects, they’ll learn first-hand the impact the home building industry has on our community. Based on what we learn from the pilot project, we will offer materials to additional schools for the 2022-23 school year. If you would like to learn more about joining our Workforce Development Advisory Board, please contact Teresa Spangler teresas@hbapdx.org.